Chapter 18: Japan

Their time in the US flew by and Haruka found herself back in her apartment before she knew it. Thinking over things one night the blonde pondered again the ceilings. Most people wouldn't think about a ceiling much but Haruka found herself thinking of how she would miss staring up at the works of art which now graced her apartment, she truly hoped they wouldn't be painted over when she did move out. The phone rang and the blonde grabbed blindly for the cordless from where she lay on the living room floor.

"Hello?" Haruka said distractedly into the receiver.

"What are you thinking about, Ruka?" Michiru's voice came from the phone pressed to her ear. "You sound like you're in deep thought."

"Ceilings." Was the somewhat vague response as the blonde shook off her thoughts. She was met by a light giggle and decided to elaborate. "Or to be more exact the ones you painted. I think I'll miss doing this."

"And what does this constitute?"

"I'm lying on living room floor watching the clouds go by."

"Haruka, they don't really move dear."

"That's what you think." Haruka smiled at the laugh and decided to change the subject. "So, what did you call about angel?"

"Just to see if you're free tomorrow." Michiru's voice was warm in the blonde's ear as she spoke. "I wanted to get together with Setsuna."

"Sounds like fun, I'll drive." This was met with another warm laugh. "What time, love?"

"Eleven." Michiru responded and Haruka swore she could hear the smile. "Good night Ruka."

"Sweet dreams Michiru." Once the call ended Haruka happily went back to her indoor cloud watching. Things were definitely looking good the blonde decided.

The next day they met with Setsuna at her family estate again and the other woman bombarded the two with questions. Haruka winced when the topic fell onto wedding attire, due to the fact that Setsuna seemed to think they should both wear dresses. Michiru came to her rescue by commenting on how good Haruka looked in a tux.

"So what was this about some guy named Taka?" Haruka asked with a devious look toward their friend. Setsuna looked toward Michiru and received only an apologetic look and a knowing smile.

"It was just dinner, that's nothing important." Setsuna said in her best nonchalant tone. "It isn't like anything else happened."

"I seem to remember going to dinner with Michiru a number of times." Haruka grinned as Michiru swatted her arm lightly and Setsuna sighed in defeat. The blonde let her teal eyes slide about the house and finally raised the question she'd been wondering about. "So where is your staff?"

"I gave them the Day off today, just for you two." Setsuna mock glared at the tall blonde. "I knew somehow that you would mention it."

"Now why would that matter unless.." Haruka grinned as she remembered something. "Taka is one of your employees isn't he?"

"Let her be, Ruka." Michiru scolded the blonde light heartedly as Setsuna fidgeted.

"Yes love." Haruka threw Setsuna a grin that clearly said the teasing would continue at a later time. Setsuna merely raised an eye brow at her friend in a challenging way. Before the staring contest could end Haruka's cell rang and she excused herself from the room.

"So, speaking seriously have you two spoken about the actual wedding?" Setsuna asked once Haruka was out of ear shot.

"No, actually I think the planning may be a bit complicated." Michiru sighed just a bit but smiled none-the-less. "I mean if we go for finding a place where it's legal that narrows down the locations quite a bit."

"And rules out Japan." Setsuna added lightly. Michiru nodded to the comment. "Maybe it shouldn't matter about the legality; this is after all a vow between yourself and the blonde speed demon. What does anyone else's opinion matter?"

"You could be right, but I don't know." Michiru looked toward the door as Haruka re-entered the room. "Its something to discuss later I think."

"What did I miss?" Haruka looked between the two and received nearly identical smiles.

"I have been telling Michiru that perhaps you would look better in a suit jacket after all." Setsuna said in a voice which seemed to be conceding a point.

"Thank you." Haruka seemed relieved until the other woman spoke again.

"Oh, and I know so many that would look good with a long skirt." Setsuna grinned and Michiru laughed as the blonde slummed back into her chair with a deep sigh.

"I should have seen that coming."

Hours later Haruka escorted Michiru up to the door of her home and smiled as her fiancé turned to face her. They both grinned as Michiru opened the door and tugged the blonde inside. Haruka laughed a bit as Michiru pulled her through the fading light inside the house and into another seemingly unused room. She picked up a remote and pushed a button filling the air with music and the blonde obliged by holding out a hand to the artist. The two swept into a waltz as if it were second nature and the music seemed to beat in time with their movements, rather than them moving to the music.

"Haruka." Michiru waited for those teal eyes to lock again on her own before she asked what she'd been wanting to since their return to Japan. "What would you think of coming to live with me here?"

"Are you sure?"

"It would strange if we got married but I didn't want to be around you." Michiru joked as Haruka swept her into the tempo of a new song. This one was closer to a Latin beat as it pulsed from the speakers. Haruka smiled slyly as she dipped her shorter partner easily and brought them back so slowly.

"I meant are you sure you want to do this now?" Haruka asked in a somewhat husky whisper.

"Beyond a doubt." Michiru whispered back as the two came slowly to a stop and Haruka stepped back with a bow, bringing Michiru's hand to her lips at the same time.

"Then it would be my honor, dear sea angel." The blonde straightened and winked at Michiru before pulling her forward into a kiss.

Author's note:

I know this is short and I am extremely sorry for that fact. Hopefully I haven't left all of you hanging for too horribly long. I don't have a lot of time, since the computer I am on is at my college and I am trying to keep up with my courses. Believe it or not I feel like I live in this lab now.

Review responses:

Yo: Sorry if I tend to leave out some of the more active details. Guess you could say I write everything in a very censored manner these days.

Amy-McClair: Thank you for the review, I was glad to hear people were still reading. Any ideas about H and M's wedding are more than welcome because right now I am having a block on where to even place it.

Kuro no Kaze: Burning the midnight oil there. B-) I tend to do that a lot myself. Glad you liked the corny line. Thank you again for the review.

Animeprincess056: Hey, now I am a late updater. I hope all of you out there can forgive me for that fact. Your idea for their wedding sounds great, by the way. If it is okay I may you an aspect or two of it, please leave me another review to let me know.

Tonker: Hey, thank you for reviewing. I am really glad you liked both stories so far. I have to admit I haven't seen too many of the episodes with Michiru and Haruka in them though I sorely want to. They seem to be a bit hard to get a hold of here.

I am still trying to think out how to do the wedding chapter; maybe that planner thing isn't a bad idea. I wish I knew how to contact my friend who plans them professionally.

Your English was fine. My first langue is English but I have met plenty of people who can't write very well in it. Errors in reviews don't bug me so long as I can understand what it is that you're saying.

YuLinG: Glad you liked them; I hoped I can keep it up even after the long pause.

Papapapuffy: Thanks for the review.

Bahamut's king: Thank you. I hope this chapter was enough to tide anyone waiting over for a little longer. I will do my best to get another up next week.

King of warlords: Thank you.