Dedicated to: My co-workers at the bookstore for the daily laughs and the really odd questions. Oh, and for the respect they show me even though I am "seasonal". (Grins) Good luck on the ASVAB Robert, I know you can do it.
Chapter 15: So we meet again.
"Perfect." Haruka said as she smiled at the salesman over the counter and reached for her wallet. Teal eyes were well hidden behind her reflective gold sunglasses as she pulled out a credit card and handed it to the grinning man. The blonde realized the man would probably receive a rather nice commission for this sale. Her cell phone went off and Haruka answered it as she signed a sales slip.
"Hey, Michi." Haruka greeted her girl friend happily over the phone as she accepted the small bag and left the store. She walked over to her golden yellow painted convertible and dropped the bag on the passenger seat for the time. "Ready to go?"
"Yes, I wish I hadn't had a meeting with Kishu-san today." Michiru sighed over her own cellular phone. A few blocks away the violinist waited amid a well-lit lobby inside the tall office building. "What have you been up to all this time?"
"Oh nothing." Haruka hit speaker and set the cell into a sort of cradle device, which held it in place just above the stereo controls. With a cocky look she started her car and pulled smoothly into the flow of traffic. "Just getting Earl washed."
"Earl?" Michiru paused and Haruka could almost see her shaking her head with an amused smile. "Who is Earl?"
"My convertibly." Haruka stated in her best serious voice. She pulled up to a red light and waited with her fingers tapping the steering wheel lightly. "Don't you like that name?"
"You don't actually call your car Earl, do you?"
"Maybe."
"I think you are trying to distract me, Ruka." Michiru's voice sounded almost coy as the light turned green and Haruka let her foot come off the brake. "Are you hiding something?"
"Yes, yes I am." Haruka said, this time her voice took on much the same tone as an actor in a bad 'TV drama'. "And it's a terrible secret."
"Really, and what is this 'terrible secret'?"
"The car's name isn't really Earl." Haruka said in a conspiratorial tone of voice as she pulled up in front of the office building and grabbed the phone from its cradle. She turned off the speaker function and got out. She nodded a greeting to the security guard as she entered the building. After the overly long pause Haruka spoke again, but this time Michiru could hear the blonde behind her as well. "Its name is Sparky."
Michiru laughed even as Haruka hung up her cell and stashed it in a pocket. The tall blonde smiled and offered her arm to Michiru. They walked back out of the building and toward the car arm in arm. As Haruka held the car door open for Michiru the artist caught sight of the small bag. She looked questioningly over to Haruka who only grinned and wiggled her eyebrows. Michiru picked the bag up and sat quietly as Haruka closed her door and went around to get in herself.
"Open it." Haruka encouraged as she once again maneuvered 'Sparky' into traffic. Michiru noticed that the blonde was trying to pretend she wasn't watching her. Just to eat at the Haruka a bit she opened the bag as slowly and carefully as possible. Inside she found a square black box that fit in her palm and she examined it with a curious look. Slowly she opened that to find a set of pure silver ear rings which were fashioned to look like tiny music notes and held pale aqua stones at the base of each note.
"What is this for?" Michiru asked Haruka as she turned her attention from the gift and back to the women who had given it to her.
"Just because I felt like it." Haruka said lightly as she glanced back at her. "Do you like them?"
"They're beautiful, thank you." Michiru placed the lid back on the box and held it carefully in her hands as they drove off toward her home. Haruka still held a secretive grin but Michiru was uncertain why. When they arrived Setsuna was sitting atop the hood of her sports utility vehicle in the driveway. She waved at them as they pulled up and stood to greet them.
"You're here early." Haruka said as she again opened the door for Michiru. Setsuna shrugged a bit before she stepped over to the back door of her own black vehicle and opened the door. She pulled out a box, which looked like those seamstresses placed expensive dresses in and held it out to Michiru.
"Its ready." Setsuna commented lightly and Haruka became puzzled. At her odd look Setsuna smiled kindly and explained. "I did some adjustments on Michiru's dress for her."
"There was a point in high school when Setsuna considered becoming a fashion designer." Michiru added as she opened the door for the other two women. Haruka nodded as they all entered. Triton and Wind only looked up at the three for a moment before returning to their respective naps.
"My fascination with the past out weighted my talent with material however." Setsuna finished and took a seat on the couch. Michiru excused herself and went upstairs to change. "So, what time do you two leave in the morning?"
"The plane leaves at nine am." Haruka said as she removed her glasses and leaned against the wall. She glanced over toward Triton and Wind. Triton was lying on his side, his breathing deep and steady and back facing the women. Wind was curled into a ball against the dog's back and was purring as she drifted toward another nap. "Are you sure its no trouble watching these two for a few weeks?"
"Oh I'm sure I can handle the two furry menaces." Setsuna said quietly as they heard Michiru reappear at the top of the stairs. When the violin player entered the room in a blue sundress Haruka stood straight and smiled to her. Setsuna herself stood and walked with them to the door. Once they were back outside Setsuna turned back to her SUV and started opening up the back. She smiled at her friends as she turned back toward the house to retrieve the fuzzy duo. "Have a good time tonight."
"Thank you, Suna." Michiru said as she got back in Haruka's car. Haruka was quiet as she backed down the drive way and carefully turned the car to face down the road.
Vegas international was as busy as Haruka remembered when they stepped through the boarding gate the next day. Haruka wasn't hit as hard by the time difference this time, but Michiru looked just a bit sleepy from the plane ride and against the blonde a bit as they walked. Teal eyes scanned over the groups of people inside the airport until they landed on Thomas who was waving a little sign. Haruka rolled her eyes as the sign said only her nickname rather than either's real name.
"Hey Raider!" Thomas called happily as they made their way over to him, Haruka leading the slightly sleepy violin player by the hand. Haruka nodded at him and he turned his attention to the other woman beside her. Thomas smiled happily at the shorter woman. "It's great to see you again Miss Kaioh, especially with how much I hear about you all the time."
"Call me Michiru, Mr. Coffel." Michiru said as Haruka coughed lightly and looked toward some none existent point in the distance of the airport lounge.
"Only if you call me Tom." The grinning man gestured toward the exit and started to lead the way. As they reached baggage claim Haruka spotted a familiar yellow Mustang sitting by one of the large glass windows. A woman with brown hair leaned against the passenger door with her eyes locked on the ground as she waited. Thomas noticed Haruka's gaze and gave a very nervous look. "She had to find out you were coming to the wedding sometime."
"It's fine, Tom." Haruka looked back toward her friend and girl friend when Michiru released her hand. The blonde gave Michiru a confused look but noticed that she too was watching the figure outside. "Michi?"
"Go talk to her, Ruka." Michiru smiled up at the tall piano player and gestured toward Tom. "The luggage hasn't even been unloaded yet and I'm sure Tom-san and I can handle it."
"San?" Tom asked, not objecting to the idea. He smiled in fact and turned to wink at Haruka. "Don't worry, I wont steal your girl here. Go say hi."
Haruka hesitated a moment longer but Michiru smiled gently at her and turned back to watch the luggage claim area. Tom made a shoeing motion with both his hands and turned to start a conversation with the graceful violin player beside him. Having been left almost no option Haruka strode somewhat disconcertedly toward the exit. As the door opened two brown eyes looked up from behind their pale lens to met her own teal orbs, they seemed to widen in reaction to the approaching blonde. Haruka stopped an arm's length from her and both watched the other in silence for a time.
"Hi Jill." Haruka finally broke the silence and Jill stood straight. The brown haired women reached in her pocket and pulled out a set of keys, offering them to Haruka. As the blonde accepted the keys she looked over her ex-wife, surprised by the lack of pain that she thought should be inspired by this meeting. The woman who stood before her now was different than the one she had last seen at that concert. Her bearing wasn't guilty, defensive or accusatory but instead held a quiet sort of respect. Haruka herself just didn't feel the same hurt she had that night.
"Hey Haruka." Jill spoke in a voice which only shook her a moment before it became confident again. She smiled and took her glasses off to the regard the taller woman before her. "You look well, Miss Kaioh seems to be good for you."
"Jill." Haruka started to say something but to her surprise Jill shook her head and smiled a bit wider at the blonde.
"I didn't mean it the way it probably sounded. Tom told me that you to became an item." Jill said as she again leaned against the car and began to play with the glasses in one hand, the other pressed to the yellow hood. Haruka put the keys in her pocket and came to lean next to Jill, leaving enough space for a whole person between them. Jill started again. "Haruka, I want you to know I am glad you two found each other. Maybe this sounds a bit strange from me, but I feel like everything is working out the way it should have."
"Are you serious, what did you do with the real Jill?" Haruka joked to ease the overly heavy feeling in the air. Jill laughed and shook her head, pushing away from the car and facing the blonde again. She held out her hand and Haruka gave her a measuring look.
"How about we start over." Jill suggested. The brown haired young woman held her hand just a bit higher and spoke in a clear voice. "Hi, I'm Jill Tanner. It's nice to meet you, what's your name?"
"Haruka, Haruka Ten'ou." Haruka shook her offered hand, playing along with the whole idea. As they shook hands Haruka felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders and she smiled warmly toward the other woman. "I'm Tom's friend."
"Ready to go you two?" Thomas asked as he emerged, followed by Michiru. Haruka was amused to notice that Michiru was carrying one suitcase while Thomas carried two and Haruka's suit bag. Jill laughed a bit and Thomas shrugged. "Can't have a lady carrying so much stuff."
"You never change." Haruka commented as she walked over and opened the trunk of the yellow Mustang. Thomas lifted one case into the trunk before he grinned at the blonde.
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"Nothing." Haruka said as she took the suitcase Michiru held and placed it inside the trunk as well. Thomas looked like he was about to comment but Jill cut him off.
"Hey scout, I'm hungry." Jill poked him in the arm and faked a glare. "Load faster so we can all go eat."
"Yes ma'am. Right away ma'am." Thomas said as he placed the last of his burden in the trunk and closed it. He turned to Haruka and Michiru again and smiled. "Hope you two don't mind joining us for dinner."
"That sounds wonderful." Michiru said politely as Haruka leaned in close to Thomas' ear and whispered one word in a taunting voice.
"Whipped." Haruka grinned as Thomas turned his glare on her. She just looked around as if she hadn't said anything. "What?"
"I am not whipped, Raider." Thomas declared. Jill only grinned and Michiru smiled silently. Thomas gave Haruka a challenging look even as Jill snuck up on him. She waited until he was solely focused on the blonde, and then poked the man again causing him to jump. He tried to glare at his fiancé but had to smile when she laughed. He looked back to Haruka again and shrugged. "Okay, so I'm whipped but I can still beat you on the track."
"Sure you can, Tom. Sure."
It wasn't until they were in the car later that night, driving back to the hotel, that Michiru finally asked the blonde about her meeting with Jill. Haruka smiled, as she was able to honestly say that things were fine. Michiru watched her for a moment, seeming to make sure the blonde was being honest, then smiled and settled back into her seat.
"I'm glad." Michiru said as she shut her eyes with a content smile on her lips. As they came to a red light Haruka leaned over and lightly kissed Michiru's cheek before whispering in her ear.
"Thank you love." Haruka smiled again as Michiru sighed happily and seemed to start dozing off. As the blonde righted herself in her seat the light turned green and the car started off again.
Author's Note:
Don't kill me for the earring thing; I just put it in on a spur. My friend laughed and called this chapter "cute" so I kept it. I probably wont get into much detail about Thomas and Jill's wedding; sorry about that but the story is about Haruka and Michiru. Oh, and not to mention I have only been to two weddings and was forced to go to both. Matter of fact, they were both at the same church. With any luck I'll have the next chapter up by the end of the week, it only needs to be edited really.
Review Reponses:
Riva van Dyk: Don't worry about missing out on so many chapters; it made me grin to see your review tonight though. If it helps any I have been practically living at work myself, this was "Rush" and god there were a lot of lost college students with questions.
As for the "Oh Shit" bar, you should meet my friends. (Grins) Jeremy drives so fast that most of the time you have to hold that bar to stay in your seat (except for me, got to love the after effects of Army driving). My friend called Suna actually holds the thing until her knuckles go white and does mutter "Oh shit" while he drives. In her car we call it that because she tends to take turns too fast. If I am driving (only by force due to no license) they all cling to that bar because they think I am going to mess up. Somehow they think having a permit would make a difference in skill level, makes no sense. I think I must know about six people who call it the "Oh Shit" bar. (Grin)
Take care until next time.
Kuro no Kaze: I am glad you liked it. B-) Here is the next chapter for you. Thank you for the review.
Hagancameron: Thank you, I feel honored.
Moonjava: Thank you for the review, it was actually pretty fun to write as well.
ShadowCub: I'm glad you like it, thank you for the review.
Bahamut's King: I was lucky to get ideas for both stories at the same time. As for my skateboard, I'll be careful but you always take a fall or two learning. This week I haven't had the time or energy to practice though, been sleeping about an hour a night. Thank god it's the weekend, time to recharge. B-)