Chapter 15: Fate's play.

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.:x:. One Year Later .:x:.

.x.

"Hey Sasuke, Makoto...what are you looking at with so much interest ?" Asked Michiru as she walked to their table in the University courtyard.

"Huh...Hi Michiru." Replied Sasuke unease. He tried to closed the newspaper they were reading but her girlfriend to engross with her reading didn't hear Michiru nor see her coming.

"What are you doing Sasuke ? I want to know-" Makoto didn't finished her sentence as she looked up and saw Michiru standing behind them. "Oh Michiru, how are you ?" Asked Makoto
trying to divert the aqua haired girl, but failed as she saw where Michiru's eyes were looking at.

"I'm fine, Can I borrow your Newspaper for a moment, please Makoto?" Enquired Michiru.

Makoto looked at Sasuke for help but he just sighed in defeat. Seeing that it was too late Makoto reluctantly handed the newspaper to the standing girl. "Here..." Said Makoto.

Michiru gazed at the picture with sadness, it's already been over a year now since she had saw them. And to come across of them like that was just too painful. She had tried to forget
the blonde, but the more she wanted to forget the more the memories came back. So for a year she had just lived her life without moving on.
'I should have expected that...' She thought sadly to herself.

"Michiru..." Interrupted softly Sasuke, he had met the crying aqua haired girl in the airport and knew the pain she was going through. He had wanted to pay Ayashi a visit the
same day but a maid had told him that the house was deserted and had given him the same information as Michiru. However, when he had arrived at the airport it was already 11:05am.
Being late, he had known that it was useless to go to the gate so he had just walked to the reception desk to ask for the flight destination. It was then that he had spotted his aqua
haired friend sitting and crying.

"I'm okay, Sasuke. I'm just surprised...they get married so fast..." Without realising it herself, tears were slowly streaming down her cheeks.

"Michiru." Whispered softly Makoto as she stood up and embraced the aqua haired girl giving her a shoulder to cry on.

"That's so unfair!..." Cried Michiru, she wanted to say more but she just buried her head in Makoto chest and let her feeling to release.

"Shhh..." Tried to calm Makoto, but she knew that it wasn't that easy. 'If I ever saw Haruka again, he will regret it !' Thought Makoto to herself.

Sasuke just watched his girlfriend comforting Michiru, he wanted to help his friend too but he didn't know what to do. Makoto wasn't in the same university as them so as much as
she could comfort Michiru from time to time, he was already glad. 'Haruka...what have you done ?' Asked Sasuke sadly to himself. He had received letters from the blonde, telling him
to carefully look after Michiru but Sasuke didn't understand him at all. 'Why did he care so much if he decided to be with Ayashi?' He questioned himself. So many questions and no answers,
he hoped that one day he will be able to found out and let his mind rest in peace. 'She loves you so much...'

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.:x:. Two years and a half later .:x:.

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"Hey minna... you won't believe me... whom I saw ...on the way here !" Said a blonde girl out of breath.

"Usagi, we've been waiting you for an hour and-" Said Rei but was interrupted before she could finish her sentence.

"Haruka!" Blurted out Usagi smiling.

"And ?" Asked Makoto nonchalantly after a moment of silence. Since that day, two years ago she had hated the blonde for ever making her friend cry so much and for breaking her heart several times.

"Well...it's been three years and...I thought I should have told you all..." Said Usagi unease, she knew that Haruka had broken up with Michiru but that didn't mean they had to hate him.

"That's kind of you Usagi, but you know...what he's done to Michiru...so well let's not talk about that." Said Minako, she didn't want Usagi to feel bad for this nor did she want Makoto to get upset,
so she tried to end the subject smoothly.

"I know, but that doesn't mean we should hate him or ignore him..." Stated Usagi, she wanted to let them know that it was in the past and that he was still a friend.

"Usagi! How can you be on his side when he hurt one of your best friend so much ?" Shouted Makoto. She didn't want to shout to the small blonde but the only thought of him just angered her.

"Hey calm down Makoto..." Said Rei, she didn't like to see her friend argued with one another. Putting her hands on the taller girl's shoulder she eyed Usagi and saw her tense.
"Usagi, let's not talk about him, would you ?" Softly said Rei to the standing blonde.

"Hai..." Replied Usagi after a moment of hesitation. 'If only they knew...'Thought sadly Usagi.

.:x:.

"Michiru, are you ready ?" Asked Ami as she waited patiently the aqua haired girl to get out of the bathroom.

"Hai..." Called Michiru. She then opened the door and walked out of the bathroom wearing a beautiful black dress. "How do I look ?" Asked Michiru smiling as she turned on herself.

"You look very beautiful, it suits you perfectly." Said Ami smiling back. They had all graduated from University and was now going to celebrate it.

"Thank you Ami. What time do we have to meet the others by the way ?" Asked Michiru as she looked at the wall clock.

"Around eight at Minako's." Answered Ami.

"And where are we going after ? I don't remember the name." Enquired the aqua haired girl. She then went to her bed and sat next to her friend.

"We're going to Akane Tokihara's mansion. Her father is holding a party for his business success and need young and charming girls around because it will be
too boring otherwise, well that's what said Usagi." Ami told Michiru smiling.

"And why are we going again ?" Asked Michiru as she put on her shoes.

"I'm not sure myself, but Usagi did say that it will be fun and that Akane did plead her to bring her friends along..." Answered Ami shrugging.

"Hm, well I hope we will have fun then...we're celebrating our graduation too after all." Said Michiru smiling.

.:x:.

"Ami, Michiru ! Just in time." Welcomed Minako as she lead them to the living room where the other were waiting.

"Oh you are so beautiful Michiru !" Exclaimed Usagi running to her friend and took the aqua haired girl's hands on her. She was going to tell her something when Makoto
came behind Michiru and glared at the small blonde. Usagi tensed and thought of something else to say. "He, where did you buy your dress ?" Asked the small blonde, she then
looked up and saw Michiru eyes shadowed an instant before returning to normal.

"It was a gift..." Michiru replied smiling slightly.

"Let's get going, we were supposed to be there at nine thirty and it's already nine o'clock." Interrupted Rei. She sensed that the aqua haired girl was remembering past events and
she didn't want her friend to feel sad when she should be happy.

"Rei is right, come on girls ! Time to go." Exclaimed Minako.

Makoto just followed Michiru silently and kept an eye on Usagi who obviously didn't realize how hurt Michiru was every time they spoke about Haruka or about
something that connoted the tall blonde.

.:x:.

"Usagi! You came...and with all of your friends !" Exclaimed Akane, she was about the same height as Usagi and was wearing a beautiful dark purple dress.

"Of course," Said grinning Usagi. "So this is Minako, Rei, Makoto, Ami and Michiru." Presented Usagi to her friend.

"Nice to meet you all." Smiled Akane. "I have to say that I heard so much about you five, that I feel like knowing you all." She then added. She was in the same class as Usagi
and happened to befriend her very quickly.

"It's nice to meet you too." Said Minako smiling.

The other just smiled back and followed Akane to the garden where the party was held.

"Wow your garden is so vast and there's a lot of people!" Exclaimed Usagi as she looked in front of her.

"Yes...but most of them are on their fifties." Sighed Akane but then she smiled brightly as she remembered the handsome man she had met. "But there's still a few very attractive young men...though."

"Oh, where are they ?" Asked eagerly Usagi smiling.

"Usagi!" Called her five friends in unison.

Usagi tried to look embarrassed and then just stuck out her tongue. "Sorry, bad habits die hardly..." She said as she looked sheepishly at her friends.

"Hopefully, Mamoru isn't here." Said Minako to her smaller blonde friend.

"Well...he is." Said Usagi blushing.

"What ?" Questioned Rei surprised. "I thought your friend only invited us ?"

"Yes, she did...but Mamoru is here because of his father." Explained Usagi.

"Oh you know this from the start Usagi !" Accused Rei smiling. Ami and Michiru just looked at her and smile a knowing smile.

"Sorry...He only told me about it the day after yesterday." Said Usagi embarrassed.

"Hm, Sasuke is coming too..." Added Makoto shyly.

"What ?" Asked Minako but then she understood. "Oh yes, because he is from the Takahashi's family."

"Gomen..." Apologized Makoto sheepishly.

"Oh so they were all taken ?" Asked Akane blushing. " And here I thought I might find someone..."

"Don't say that, by the way how does the one you saw look like ?" Asked Usagi smiling as she put her hand on her friend's shoulder.

"Hm...well...he is breath taking, I...he is tall...and handsome." Said Akane blushing very hard. Just to think about him affected her so much that she couldn't speak clearly.

"What is that description ?" Asked Minako grinning. "You have at least to tell us, his hair's and eye's color."

Gathering her breath, Akane tried to describe him as much and as accurately as she could. "He has short blonde hair with some strands that covered occasionally his eyes...beautiful teal eyes,
and a mysterious aura that surrounds him."

'Like Haruka...' Thought Usagi, Minako, Rei, Makoto and Ami in unison. And without knowing it, they had all turned at the same time and looked at Michiru with sad expression.

Sensing eyes on her, Michiru tried to play it as though she hadn't thought about Haruka too. She turned towards the smaller girl and asked her. "And how old is he ?"

"Oh I don't know but I think he should be between 25 to 27 year's old. I didn't have time to ask him...well I didn't speak to him at all. I could only said 'Hi' before
he was carried away by girls." Explained sadly Akane.

The other hearing that the man was older than them, sighed reassuringly.

"Girls ? I thought, we were the only ones ?" Asked Minako after a moment, taken aback.

"Well, I didn't know they were coming too. I think they are the children of my father's guest." Replied Akane smiling slightly.

"Oh, and how old are they ?" Enquired Minako.

"Hm, I don't know... maybe they are in their early twenties like us." Answered Akane. "Why ?" She then asked curious.

"Just wanted to know." Smiled Minako. She then went to Rei and took her by her arms and dragged the ebony haired girl towards the buffet. "Come on girls, let's celebrate our graduation!"

They all shook their heads smiling and followed their blonde's friend.

.:x:.

"Back off!" Shouted a girl in the crowd.

"Why ? We were just talking... no offense, but who are you by the way?" Said another girl. She was encircled by her friends.

" I don't have to answer you! Just leave him alone." Shouted again the first girl.

As they kept on shouting at each other, a large crowd started to gather around them.

"Wow, seems like girls are fighting for a guy over there." Said Minako pointing to a large crowd. "He must be worth it..."

"Mamoru!" Shouted Usagi as she ran to the crowd. The other just looked at each other and sweat dropped.

"I will look after her." Said Makoto quietly as she ran to follow her blonde friend.

"Yes, just says it's because you're worried it's Sasuke." Called Minako grinning.

"Let's try to stop them before they made fool of themselves." Said Rei.

The other just nodded in agreement and walked to the crowd.

"Don't touch him!" Cried a girl with dark brown hair. She was standing in front of a sitting young man who looked very sleepy.

"And what gives you the right to touch him ?" Asked another girl. She was standing in front of the dark haired girl with four other girls behind her.

"You tried to get him drunk !" Accused the other girl.

"No I didn't, he drank by himself."

"You lied!"

"I did not!"

"Stop it..." Said the sitting man as he slowly stood up. "Kyoko." He then called with a soft voice.

The girl tried to turn around, but before she could move she felt two strong but warm arms encircling her from behind. "Why didn't you ...just tell them ...that
you are my lover ?" Asked the tall man from behind, his face was flushed.

The girl blushed profusely, looked down and stayed silent.

"Well I'm sorry... she doesn't like it... when there's women around me. She is a bit possessive...you know... woman in love." He said smiling at the group of girls before him.

"Well, you should have just say that he was your boyfriend..." Told the girl. "Anyway if you want a less possessive girlfriend you know where I am." Added the girl before leaving with her group.

Once the show finished, the curious guests just went away, leaving the man and the girl to themselves.

"Haruka!" Cried the girl as she whirled in the embrace. She was still blushing furiously but try to control her embarrassment. "How can you ?" She asked looking a little angered.

"Well, I'm-" But before she could finish her words, a strong fist came knocking her face. She took a step back and looked up.

"You bastard!" Shouted a very angry Makoto. "You are really the worst!" She was going to hit the tall blonde again when Usagi came from behind her and tried to stop her.

"Makoto, stop it!" Cried the blonde. However she wasn't strong enough to hold her friend back.

As Makoto was going to hit another time Haruka, she came face to face with a very angered girl. "I won't let you hurt him anymore." Said the girl standing in front of Makoto.

"How can you protect this bastard ? Don't you see that he is playing with you ?" Asked Makoto angrily.

"He's not and it's because I love him." Stated firmly the girl.

Makoto was about to shove the girl away when she was stopped by strong arms. She looked back and her eyes widen. "Mamoru ? Sasuke ? Why are you two stopping me ?
He has only what he earns !"

"Stop it Makoto, you're being unfair here..." Whispered Mamoru to her.

"What ? I'm-" But before she could say anything else, Michiru interrupted her.

"Please Makoto, I know you're doing this for me...but I'm not holding grudge against him...it was in the past." Said sadly Michiru. She had been surprised to see the tall man
looking so much like Haruka but she was sure it wasn't her, for she was with Ayashi and more importantly they were married. However, as the girl shouted her name, Michiru j
ust stared at the couple with anger and hurt. She couldn't believe that Haruka had left Ayashi for this young girl. She was indeed beautiful but she seemed too young, she looked
like at most only eighteen.

She closed her eyes and tried to put her feelings together. It has already been almost four years now and she had moved on, but feeling still resided deep within her.

"What do you think you are doing ?" Shouted the girl. She was examining Haruka's cheeks and couldn't help but to feel angered towards this new group. "It's not because-"

"Kyoko..." Cut Haruka. "Don't... I deserved it." Said softly Haruka.

"But-" The girl known as Kyoko stopped her sentence as Haruka slowly walked away from her and towards the group.

"I'm sorry for the scene...I caused...I'm sorry I think...I think I drunk too much." Stammered the tall Blonde, her head was spinning and she felt the alcohol making her effect on
her. She raised her hands to hold her aching head but by doing so she lost her balance.

She was going to fell when she felt two arms supporting her. Her head hurt so much, she tried as much as she could to stand up but as she straighten up a little she came face to face
with a long blonde haired girl with concerned blue eyes.

"Aya?" Without letting the smaller girl the time to think, Haruka took her in a strong embrace. "Aya! Aya! You came back...I'm so glad you came back!" Shouted the tall blonde, she
was crying earnestly and the group just looked at her with astonishment.

Rei was going to Minako's help when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "What ?" She asked Usagi.

"Please, let her cry...a moment longer... Rei." Pleaded Usagi with sad blue eyes.

"..." Rei said nothing and just stared at Haruka crying her heart out and shouting ceaselessly.

Michiru watched with concerned Haruka, she has never seen the tall blonde cried and to see her cry like this pained her. She didn't know what happen but it seemed like Haruka wasn't the one that left.

Makoto looked bewildered at Haruka. 'Why is he crying so hard? And someone has to tell him that it's not Ayashi but Minako he is hugging.' She thought to herself. She was going to
speak when she sensed Sasuke's hand taking hers. She then looked up at him questioning. "Please, don't hold any grudge against him, Makoto...He had suffered enough and as you may
see he's still suffering." Told softly Sasuke to his girlfriend.

"She's not Ayashi! Haruka..." Shouted Kyoko, she couldn't bear it any longer, slowly tears made their way down her cheeks. To see the tall blonde like this just worried and angered her. "She's dead!" Cried Kyoko.

Usagi, Mamoru and Sasuke just closed their eyes painfully, knowing the truth didn't help them to feel better. The other just looked at Haruka with wide eyes.
Michiru held her hand to her mouth and let hot tears streaming down her cheeks.

Kyoko walked to Haruka and tried to pull him away from Minako but before she could hold his arms, she was pushed away by Haruka. "No! I'm not leaving her... I promised her
we will go through it... together! I promised! " Shouted Haruka as she was holding protectively Minako in her arms.

Minako just stood silently, she felt an immense pain washing over her and without knowing why she cried openly. The sensation of being in Haruka's strong yet gentle and warm arms, just told her
how much the tall blonde had loved and cared for Ayashi.

Haruka hearing Minako cried turned to face her and cupped her face. "Why are you crying, Aya ?" Asked softly Haruka. "I'm sorry, I won't leave you anymore...I promised." She then whispered tenderly.

Minako just cried harder, she buried her head in Haruka's chest and gripped his shirt tightly.

She had never felt this way before and never wanted to felt it again. As she cried against the tall blonde, Minako decided internally that she would, no matter what, help the tall blonde to heal from his lost.

People started to gather around them, and started to talk quietly. Usagi knowing what the outcome might be ordered the other to took them into a private room. They all did as she said without
questions, they were too shocked and too sad to think properly.

"Akane, I'm sorry for this scene...I will go apologize to your father. I'm so sorry." Apologized Usagi.

"It's okay Usagi, I don't think he heard the shouts...he was at the other side of the garden." Said smiling slightly Akane. "By the way, the man...it was him..." She added softly, her voice quiet and sad.

"Oh, so it was Haruka." Stated Usagi quietly.

"Hm, you know him, right ?"

"Yes, he's Michiru ex boyfriend...and her first love." She told her friend.

"Michiru? The aqua haired girl ?" Enquired the girl.

Usagi nodded and sensing her friend next question, answered her before she could ask. "He left her for another friend Ayashi, they got married at 21, spent two years together...and six months prior to now ...Ayashi-"

"Don't say it, I know it's painful..." Interrupted softly Akane. "I will inform the maids that we will have guests over the night...and please, look after him..." She then said gently as she walked away from her friend.

"Thank you, I will...we will." She answered softly to her retreating friend.

.:x:.

AN: Hm I got inspired and I just wrote that down. I don't know how it looks like to a reader, but I like this chapter.

Andrea, Thank you for letting me know what you think of my fic.

Bahamut's king, Hey it's ok, I know what it is to have college tasks. I'm having a lot too. I know most of the readers hate Haruka's father but he's a parent and thus he is and has the bad habit too always interfere in his daughter life.

Miharu, thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you like my story.

Rushingwind, Thanks for the compliment ! but I'm far, really far from being a good writer...unfortunately. Anyway, sorry for the 'proposing' thing I didn't know it will look so bad, I just wrote it and didn't give any second thought. As for Michiru, she does act abnormally around Ruka, love blinds you!
Oh and about my web site, I was just putting my drawings for 'Yakusoku' there but since I don't feel like drawing anymore I just shut the site down.

Kiki, well I'm sure you are going to blame me for getting Haruka and Ayashi together (that was imply since they got married) but that was in my original plan so I couldn't avoid it. Gomen.

Papapapuffy, don't worry I'm not planning on tormenting Michiru anymore...well not as much as before I mean. Drama spotlight will be on Haruka !

Apl85, thanks for checking my writing! I'm happy to know that I have improved my skills, your review gave me the will to write more.