Dedicated to all Haruka and Michiru fans.
Chapter 16: The Fountain
The week passed far more quickly then Haruka ever thought it could. The day of the wedding came and Haruka and Michiru sat quietly among the quests as Thomas and Jill exchanged their vows. White flowers sat at the ends of each isle and a blue carpet led toward the alter. Jill wore a dress that was an off white color and carried a dozen red roses as she walked up the isle. Thomas looked up and his breath seemed to catch. The man himself wore a traditional black tux. As the vows were recited Haruka held Michiru's hand and felt the artist leaning against her.
The wedding reception took place at a large casino; the happy couple had rented a sort of ballroom and a DJ played slow songs over the speakers. The floor appeared to be made of highly polished obsidian, the pillars supporting the ceiling looked to be a dark gray form of marble. The doors leading into the room were large and made of heavy oak; they were spaced all across one long wall. Opposite of those door were a number of glass balcony doors leading into a peaceful seeming garden area under the nighttime sky. Many guests took quietly to the floor with their dates as the evening passed. Haruka smiled as she danced with Michiru.
The two had drawn a fair amount of attention at the reception, and not because of Haruka being "the ex". Instead people commented on how beautiful of a couple they made. Michiru wore a long black dress with spaghetti straps, black heels adorned her feet, her hair was pulled up into a bun and in her ears were the music note earrings Haruka had given her. Her blue eyes sparkled happily at the blonde as they swayed across the floor.
For her part, Haruka garnered just as much attention. Her blonde hair, tamed that morning, was again wind blown and giving her a somewhat rakish air. Haruka wore an expensive black Italian suit, highly shined black dress shoes, a royal blue collared shirt and a black tie. Golden cuff links adorned the cuffs of her suit as one small golden hoop earring hung from her left ear and sparkled even in the dim lighting. The two found they were a focus of attention after the newly-weds made their exit.
Haruka ignored those watching, teal eyes boring into Michiru's deep blue as they danced. Michiru's arms were draped lightly over Haruka's shoulders and the blonde's hands were resting on the small of her back. The way the two fit perfectly together seemed so natural that they hardly even thought about their actions. Haruka leaned her head down until her lips hovered near Michiru's neck and felt as the shorter woman's arms tightened just a bit.
"Why don't we get some air?" Haruka purred lightly into Michiru's ear when the dance floor became a bit crowded. Michiru nodded up at the blonde and Haruka led the way. As they walked one of Haruka's hands rested lightly on Michiru's back still. They came to the outside patio of the casino and Michiru's breath caught. Before the two stood a large and beautifully lit marble fountain, it's water seeming to glow a soft aqua color from the lighting embedded into it. "This place always had a great view. Tom said that was why he wanted the reception to be here."
"Its incredible." Michiru commented as she gazed up at the statue of Poseidon that rested in the center of the fountain. She turned to look at Haruka and the blonde was grinning at her in a mysterious way. Michiru shook her head and smiled back. "Did you think of another name for your car?"
"No, I like Sparky." Haruka stepped forward and took Michiru's left hand in her right, raising it slowly to her lips, as her eyes remained locked on Michiru's. She lightly kissed the artist's hand and spoke again in that husky voice. "Right now all that is on my mind is the incredible woman before me."
Michiru's heart nearly stopped just at the look in Haruka's teal eyes. If the racer had been romantic before, this was a whole new level she decided. Haruka grinned a bit and twirled Michiru around just as one would during a dance, stopping with Michiru again facing the fountain and wrapping both arms tightly around the shorter woman. The artist leaned into the strong embrace as she pondered how her heart, previously at a near halt, was now beating as fast as a humming bird's wings. She closed her eyes for a moment as soft lips lightly kissed her neck just below her ear.
"What would I do with out you, Michi?" Haruka purred softly into her ear, the blonde's breath tickled her and Michiru shivered. She felt a chuckle run through the blonde and those arms squeezed her just a bit more. "Before I met you I cold never quite figure out what was missing in my life. I had the things most people thought make you happy: money, a few cars, a house, and Wind-Chaser and Jill. But I wasn't really happy, I wanted to be, and sometimes I enjoyed it, but I was just existing."
"What do you mean, Haruka?" Michiru asked as the blonde then pressed a gentle kiss to her temple. The artist felt almost like she could melt into clay at that moment.
"Nothing ever made me feel quite alive, I wasn't unhappy but I wasn't content. Something was missing Michiru." Haruka rested her chin on the artist's shoulder and watched the water as it spouted and fell into the fountain steadily. "I was blind to what was going on in front of me and it took a lot for me to see it. I can't say that I loved you the minute I saw you, but I can say I trusted you from that first moment. That when I finally saw what was going on I didn't think once of where or who I was going to, but I found myself seeking you. No matter how many nights I felt regret over what had taken place, over how blind I'd been, I never felt sad about it while you were with me."
"Michiru, I started to live again when I met you." Haruka said as she pulled back and Michiru turned to look up at her. The shorter woman searched Haruka's face with questioning eyes for long moments before she spoke.
"Haruka, what is this all about?" Michiru asked. Again the blonde took her left hand and kissed as she dropped to one knee and pulled out a beautifully crafted sliver ring. Two dolphins made of sliver wrapped around a sapphire to hold it in place. Haruka held Michiru's hand with her right, the ring with her left, and looked up into wide blue eyes.
"Michiru Kaioh." Haruka started in a nervous voice. "Over the past year you have been the center of my world. You give me a reason to wake up in the morning, a reason to keep going no matter what. When I needed a friend you were there, when I needed a place to go you gave me one, when I could love again you accepted me with out question. I can't imagine a day with out you anymore. I can't imagine not hearing your voice, seeing your beautiful smile or watching you play with Triton and Wind."
"Will you marry me?" Haruka asked after taking a deep breath. A number of people near the doors to the balcony had stopped to watch but neither woman noticed. Michiru's heart stopped, her mind went blank and all she could feel was an incredible sense of disbelief and happiness. Haruka waited nervously, and though no one in the crowd could see that uncertain look Michiru could.
"How could I say no, I loved you from the first moment I saw you." Michiru replied in barely a whisper. Haruka seemed to let out a relieved breath as Michiru nodded and let her slide the ring onto her finger. Cheers came from those who'd stopped to watch, as Haruka stood and swept Michiru into a deep kiss that lasted so long that both were gasping for air as they pulled back a fraction. Teal and blue locked and Michiru whispered so that only Haruka would hear. "You had this planned out for a while didn't you?"
"It took me since almost the day I met Setsuna to find a ring that looked right." Haruka grinned giddily as she hugged Michiru bit closer and started to dance again to the music floating out the door. Michiru fell into step with her easily and the two swayed closely together. "When I asked Tom where the reception was I couldn't help it."
"I love you." Michiru whispered as she rested her head on Haruka's shoulder. Those who had been watching the couple began to wander off in order to leave them to their privacy. Haruka smiled and kissed Michiru's temple as those blue eyes slide shut. They danced silently on the balcony as the night breeze blew lightly around them and moonlight sparkled off the ring Michiru now wore.
No author's note this chapter.
Review responses:
Animeprincess056: The chapter 14 dress conversation was a sort of a play on every conversation about dresses that takes place around me. Recently a friend was going to get married and wanted to make me wear a dress to the wedding that was the present she asked for.
Sorry, the ring had to come sometime. Don't worry; we aren't quite to the end yet.
Moonjava: Glad you liked it. Thank you for the review.
Kuro no kaze: Thanks for the review; you know I almost took the earring part out of chapter 15 before I posted it.
Moon-Daisuki: Thanks for the review; I'm glad you liked that last chapter. I would have posted this days ago, but I felt a pause was needed and I was hoping for the feedback all of you gave me.
Take care until next chapter.
Haruka's Knight