Chapter 17 : Promise.
.:x:.
Haruka nodded and was going to retreat, but as she turned to leave she came face to face with all her other friends.
"I'm sorry..." Haruka whispered softly to them. "I never meant to disrupt your celebration. I will leave immediately." She added sadly. Before she walked out of the room, Haruka gave Michiru a last look and sighed. She didn't mean to hurt her, but at the end she did and that's what pained her the most. 'I probably lost my chance...four years ago.' Thought Haruka.
She knew back then what her decision had meant, but the only sight of Michiru just made her heart throbbed and longed for her all over again. "My love for you has never tarnish." She said quietly, "I know you won't believe my words but... I just wanted you to know that." She added and slowly walked out of the room. Michiru didn't answer, she just buried her head deeper into Minako's shoulder.
She knew she didn't deserve the aqua haired woman, for she had only caused her pain and had left her when she needed her. Haruka reflected about their moment together and sadly came to the realization that she had hurt Michiru more than she had made her happy. 'I don't deserve her...after all.' Thought the blonde to herself.
As she was going to walk pass her friends, Usagi grabbed her arms and made her stopped and looked at her. "Why are you leaving ?" Asked Usagi, pain clearly showed in her voice.
"I have to." Said softly Haruka. She took Usagi's hands, squeezed them a little and smiled sadly. "Thank you for your concerned though, Usagi." Haruka had encountered Usagi on the afternoon and had talked a little with the smaller blonde. She had been surprised to know that Usagi had known about Ayashi's illness and her recent death. She had been more surprised when her friend had confronted her about her love for Ayashi. At first she didn't know how to answer, but as they talked she just poured her heart out.
"You should tell her..." Whispered Usagi.
"No, I don't think that will change anything. I should have known what to expect when I left... years ago." Replied Haruka. She then tried to resume her walk but Usagi still held her arm. "Usagi..." Said quietly Haruka.
"No I don't want you to walk out from here before you tell her." Pleaded Usagi.
"Usa..." Said Mamoru as he came to them and took Usagi in his arms. "I know you want to help them but maybe they still need some time."
Haruka saw the look Mamoru gave her and thanked him silently with a nod, however before she could move, Kyoko flung herself on her and embraced her tightly. The tall blonde tired from the previous night and surprised by the running girl fell to the ground with Kyoko still gripping at her. "Haruka... I was so worried!" She cried into the blonde who obviously had completely forgotten about the girl.
"I'm sorry Kyoko..." She said while gently pulling away and taking the girl's face between her hands. "I should have been more careful. I'm sorry." She then laid a soft kiss on the girl's forehead and watched as Kyoko cheeks started to redden. "Am I forgiven ?" Asked softly Haruka smiling.
"Hai..." She whispered shyly and stood up quietly embarrassed by her childish action. The instant she saw Haruka she forgot about her surroundings and there was only the tall blonde in her sight.
"Come one, we're going back home." Said softly Haruka as she reached for Kyoko's hand. The girl just looked up with a smile and nodded happily.
Michiru had looked up from Minako's shoulder when Kyoko had rushed in the room and directly to Haruka, and without knowing why herself, she couldn't help her heart to tighten at the sight. She knew Kyoko was Haruka's stepsister now and that Kyoko accepted it even though it hurt but it was the sight of Haruka that let her wondering. The tall blonde was so caring towards Kyoko that for strangers they might look like a loving couple. She then remembered the time when they had first met and how Haruka had been so kind and so caring. She was also reminded of the soft kiss on the forehead she had received on their first encounter, but it also reminded her of the vision of Haruka and Ayashi at the airport. 'She shouldn't do that with everybody...that...that might be misinterpreted.' She thought sadly to herself and closed her eyes.
As Haruka and Kyoko were going to leave the room, Makoto stopped them. "Wait please." She said softly.
Haruka stopped first but was immediately shielded by the smaller girl. "Don't worry, I won't do anything." Added Makoto, smiling. "In fact, I wanted to apologize." She said seriously as she looked up at Haruka.
The blonde just stared at Makoto and then at Sasuke who stand beside his fiancée. 'Will I be able to leave, without each of them stopping me...' Sighed Haruka internally. "You don't need to apologize. I deserved it." Said Haruka.
"Still, I'm sorry." Replied Makoto. She knew that somehow Haruka deserved the hit, but her outburst was misplaced. She should have been more objective, Haruka was drunk and wasn't the one at fault, but her protectiveness over her friends just took over her own thought at that time.
"Look, I'm the one to be sorry. I messed up your celebration..." She said as she looked at all her friends standing near the big doorframe. "I know I deserved more than just the hit Makoto gave me...I'm sorry." With a final sad glance at her friends, Haruka left the room quietly with Kyoko, an expression of resolution on her face.
.:x:.
Once outside the room, Kyoko looked up and saw the hurt in Haruka's eyes. She wanted to know why, she opened her mouth but then closed it, she just tighten her grip. Holding Haruka's hands was all she could do for now.
"Are you cold ?" Asked softly Haruka, she saw how Kyoko tensed and thought that it was because of the cool hair in the hallway.
"No." She whispered and then clung to Haruka's arm and pressed her body closer. "I'm fine...because you're here."
"Kyoko..." Haruka whispered as she looked down. She saw the tears that ran down her cheeks and immediately took her in a strong embrace. "I'm sorry Kyoko. Please don't cry. Not for me." She added softly.
Kyoko just cried and held Haruka tightly. "I can't help it! Oh Haruka, I love you so much...I don't want to see you like this!"
"I'm sorry..." She whispered softly and tried to comfort the crying girl in her arms, but the latter just cried harder.
.:x:.
"Rei ?" Whispered Minako as she saw her friend standing by the other. Rei looked at her and then at Michiru. She didn't know what exactly happened but she was positive that Michiru still loved Haruka. The sight she witnessed the night before was still playing in her mind though and she didn't know what to think of it. It seemed like Minako was concerned about Michiru as much as Makoto was. 'Maybe she loved Haruka for years but never said anything because of her friendship...' Thought sadly Rei. Before she could see the hurtful expression on Minako's eyes, Rei patted Ami shoulder and whispered something to her friend and then walked out of the room.
Ami, however, saw the longing expression on Minako's face and being very perceptive she immediately understood. 'They loved each other... without knowing it.'
She then walked to Minako and Michiru and smiled reassuringly. "Don't mind Rei, she's just worried."
"Where is she going ?" Asked Minako quietly. She wanted to run after Rei but she didn't know what to say or to do once she would reach her friend, so she just held Michiru comfortingly.
"To talk to Haruka." Ami replied.
Michiru, hearing Haruka's name, pulled away from Minako and looked at Ami and then back to her other friends by the doorframe. Her eyes were scanning the room for the blonde and suddenly aware of Haruka's absence, felt her heart throbbing rapidly into her chest. "Where...Where is Haruka ?" She finally managed to ask.
Ami looked at Minako as if asking her if she should told her friend the truth or not. Seeing Minako nod, Ami took Michiru's hands and squeezed them. "Rei went after him, she think he's going to stay away from Tokyo, from Japan...because he realized he only hurt you by being here." Replied softly Ami, she looked at her friend and saw the tears forming in her eyes. "Do you want him out of your life... again ?" Enquired Ami, she knew how deep her aqua haired friend's love was for Haruka, but she also knew how hurt she had been when Haruka left with Ayashi. At first, she couldn't forgive Haruka just like Makoto but she somehow knew that Haruka had really loved Michiru too.
"I...I don't know." Replied Michiru.
"He never ceased to love you." Said Usagi as she approached her friends. "I know it's hard to believe it, but it's the truth and-" She added but then was interrupted by her boyfriend.
"Usa, don't interfere, please. It's not our business." Said Mamoru from where he stood.
"No! She ought to know !" Claimed Usagi, she then turned to Michiru and looked at her with honesty. "Ayashi was ill and she was incurable. Haruka found out and it tore his heart, he loved her dearly and he couldn't think of anything except her being happy-"
"Usa!" Mamoru came to her and pried her to stop. Usagi just turned and stared at Mamoru angrily. "You! How can you stand by and look at your friends suffering... and do nothing when you can ?" She asked furious.
Mamoru just stood silently, he wanted to help his friends too but he didn't want to interfere with their business. He was scared to do wrong. "I'm sorry, I don't want to mess up." He finally managed to say. "I want to help too, but I don't know how." He tried to explain, but Usagi was turning from him and toward Michiru.
"Michiru, please. Forgive him. I know you still love him, just don't let the past hinder your life." She said softly to Michiru, but the aqua haired girl was still hesitating. The hurt was still deep and she feared it would happen again. "Please, understand him Michiru. He cares so much about everyone... he didn't even think of himself. Today was the only time I saw him being a little selfish." She added.
"Usagi is right, Michiru." Said softly Minako. "I never see Haruka like that before, but then again because he didn't want to hurt you...he is going to put your needs before his."
"But...I never ask him!" Replied Michiru. Her heart was aching to run out of the room and stopped Haruka but her mind was still against it. She didn't want to be the makeweight.
"Michiru, we know Haruka since High School...did he ever do something for himself ?" Asked Sasuke still holding Makoto hand. "No, he never. I somehow understand him now...I don't know what I would have done in his place but I'm sure as hell that either way I would have felt like shit! I'm sorry for the language but it's the truth. How do you think he was feeling all those years ? Knowing you hurt all your friends badly, leaving them without prerogative, spending your times thinking about it...you know how Haruka is and how caring he is. Just imagine his life, he knew Ayashi was condemned and he had to smile and care for her when he was full of remorse. Don't you think he-" but Sasuke didn't have the time to finish his question as he saw Michiru ran out of the room with tears in her eyes.
"Well, I think she understood." Said Ami smiling to no one in particular.
.:x:.
"Haruka !" Cried Michiru once she spotted the tall blonde downstairs in front of the entrance door, speaking with Rei. "Don't leave!"
Haruka looked up and saw Michiru running desperately down the stairs and toward her. She unconsciously walked to meet her and at the very end of the stairs Michiru flung herself at Haruka without hesitation. "Oh Haruka! I miss you...I miss you so much! Please don't leave." She cried as she enlaced Haruka around the neck and buried her head in her shoulder.
"Michiru...I miss you too, I'm so sorry I hurt you. I'm sorry." Haruka cried as she held Michiru tightly.
Michiru gently disengaged herself and stared at Haruka. She raised her hand and softly whipped away the tears that ran down Haruka's cheeks. "Please, don't leave. Don't leave me." Pleaded Michiru.
"I won't, if you don't want me to." Said softly Haruka, she reached for Michiru's hands and held them. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry I ever left you...but I-" Michiru just shushed her with a soft kiss.
Michiru then gently pulled away and looked at Haruka with caring eyes. "Don't ever leave me then," She then whispered tenderly. "My heart won't take anymore."
Haruka knew what it meant and took Michiru in her arms and held her tighlty. "I won't I promise." She said as tears made their way down her cheeks again. "I love you."
They held each other tenderly, unaware of the small audience that had formed around them. Rei and Kyoko looked at each other and shared a thin smile. They were happy to see them together and content. Kyoko knew from the conversation Rei and Haruka had that Haruka loved Michiru but left her in order to take care of Ayashi who the tall blonde had loved dearly too.
Upstairs, Makoto, Sasuke, Ami, Usagi, Mamoru and Minako looked at them with a satisfied expression on their face. They were pleased to see their friends together again.
.:x:.
End?
AN: Sorry for the long wait. Well I know that wasn't what you were all waiting for but I was in lack of inspiration and I have been really really busy with college...graduating year is so awful.
However, I think that if I end it there it wouldn't be a nice ending...so I decided that I will try to write an Epilogue. I hope that I will do better than this and that it will be my best chapter. I do want to end it with a good work after all. But because 'life is unfair', I don't know if I will have enough time to write it.
Anyway I think that this ending was kind of nice though, so maybe you will have to stick with it.
Thanks to all the readers and special thanks to the reviewers!
Mistgrosh, well I think you have your answer now. Anyway thanks for your review and I'm glad you liked the part I wrote after your previous review.
Hachiru, thanks, I know Michiru suffered a lot in this fic but someone has to suffer openly and I decided that it would be Michiru. Haruka doesn't deserved Michiru in this fic ? Well I will just say yes and no but I like them together too so no, she does deserve her in a way.
Rushingwind, I do like reading your review because they're long, you gave me your point of view and you always asked the good questions! About Aya and Haruka, I didn't explain because that would be too long, but if you want an answer I will just say that Aya never found out but somewhere in her heart she knew Haruka had known about her illness before but she didn't want to acknowledge this. I think that when someone loves a person dearly sometimes they just closed their eyes over things or unconsciously reject some thoughts, in order to live in the present happily...especially when you know that it won't last. I'm really glad you like my fic and I will think about writing a 'sweet, happy story'. I was planning to write one but I wanted to finish this first. I will let you know. Thanks for your reviews!
Bahamut's king, Thanks for the review, I wish I could have done a better job but like I told you I think I've reached what we can call a writer's block. Ah and you were right college works do play on your mind, I tried to write the epilogue but nothing came out...I think I will try after January.
Papapapuffy, thank you for the reviews you dropped me. I'm always glad to know you still read my fic and like thus far.
Petiyaka, Girls are complicated because love is undeniably complicated! Unfortunately this will probably be the last chapter, I will maybe write one more (the epilogue) but that not sure. Anyway thanks for reviewing.
Kiki, Thanks for the review, to be honest I was going to rekindle them slowly because just like you said 'it would be a long way to Haruka to be with Michiru again since Michiru was afraid to be hurt once more' but as I try to write this chapter I have more and more difficulties to do so...so I hopped for this short passage. Not very wise but I can't do better right now. As for Aya she didn't find out like I told Rushingwind and about their years together I just can say that Haruka, caring as she is, did everything to make her happy and she has been happy...but sad because she knew she would have to leave this happiness behind and go one day...leaving Haruka mourn her. Hope that explain a little.
Starchick24, well thanks for your review. You complimented me too much...I feel like a little guilty for updating this chapter. It's not as good as I wanted it to be. Hope you're not too disappointed.
Andrea, thanks for the review. Actually I didn't think to end it so fast but as nothing is set in stone I have to end it there, I hope you like it though. I'm sorry if I don't answer you back in Spanish, I understand but I'm too bad at it…unfortunately.