Chapter 4
A Fight for the Sea
Michiru passed much time working on her photos the following week. She had decided to keep most of her photos of Haruka for she feared people would guess her special interest in him. Ami was teasing her. She had shown her the photos. The responsible of the photography club was satisfied.
"Excellent Miss Kaioh! You're a great photograph. I think you'll be invited by the fencing team at the end of the year to make an exhibition. They are very happy with your work. I think that you could attend a photography school after high school…"
"I'm not interested; I'd rather attend a violin school… or maybe an art school…"
"Well… I understand. You have talent in everything. You can do whatever you want. You're lucky."
On Wednesday morning, her friends teased her… Ami had presented her to her nearest friends, Tsukino Usagi, Hino Rei, Aino Minako and Kino Makoto. Michiru liked them, though they all were too girlish. She didn't had much acquaintance with Usagi and Minako, but she had a good feeling with Makoto and Rei, who were a little more adults. They had insisted to come with her the afternoon to Haruka's school. They wanted to meet men, Ami wasn't like that, but she always followed them everywhere.
So on Wednesday, they were ready to go to Haruka's school. Michiru had put her white dress, the one she preferred and her hairs were tied with a white ribbon. She was gob-smacking. When they arrived at the school, the guys were waiting for them and guided them to the gymnasium like an escort. But they saw Haruka nowhere.
"I… Where is M. Tenoh." Asked Michiru.
"Well… you know, he is shy, he said he wouldn't come." Said one of the guys.
Michiru felt upset, she had waited a whole week to see him. She couldn't wonder that Haruka had saw her arrive and was following them, hidden. The guys had teased her so much that she chose not to come, but she couldn't resist to the desire to see Michiru's face.
Michiru was feeling awkward, she was feeling as though watched… she showed her photos, while the girls tried to date the guys. But the guys were more interested in her. When she finished to show the photos, she began to talk with the coach who wanted her to present to the next tournament… The guys went with her friends to show them the school.
Haruka was hidden behind a wall not far, she had noticed that two of the guys hadn't leave. She heard their discussion.
"This Michiru's quite pretty. We don't have such a beautiful in our own school… I wonder why she don't have any boyfriend… For my part if she asked me…"
"I talked with the guys of her school while she was taking photos… They told me she was said to be a lesbian…"
"A lesbian… that's disgusting. So Tenoh has no chance. Maybe we should tell him.
Haruka was burning with anger, how could those two talk about Michiru this way… but in a way… in she was lesbian maybe she did have a chance…
"Disgusting? No… I'd rather say… exciting… imagine her nice little corpse with another as cute…"
"Sorry, no. That sounds disgusting to me. And it's a pity… there so much thing I could do with her. She seems to be such a little whore…"
Haruka couldn't bear more. She showed herself. There was a flame of burning anger in her glance and a kind of madness on her face.
"How dare you utter those rubbish things!"
Her fit came violently into the first man's face, he fell on the ground.
"Tenoh… we were only joking… we're team mates, you wouldn't dare… and for such a little whore…"
She totally lost control of herself and hit the man. But the other had stood up and wanted to avenge… then the other men arrived, they must have heard the noise. Haruka was not very popular, so the men had no hesitation and decided to avenge their friends. Haruka was stronger than each one of them, but she couldn't resist to seven men highly trained attacking together.
The noise attracted Michiru and the coach, the girls were standing in a corner, knowing that they couldn't do anything. Only Makoto was trying to stop them, but without success. Haruka was still fighting, but her lips was bleeding very much, her nose too, and a large bruise was beginning to appear on her eye. But when she caught sight of Michiru, she felt ashamed. The girl was going to think that she was nothing more than a rude and brutal man… This second of inattention caused him to receive a strong fit in the face by total surprise. She fell on the ground, nearly unconscious.
Michiru had felt an horrible feeling of feat when she had saw Haruka bleeding. Firs her hearts had beat faster when she had caught sight for him, but as soon as she saw the blood and the way she fell, she panicked and hurried to him, pushing the other men with a strength she didn't knew she had. They all fell on the ground. Tears were running on her cheeks, but she was not aware of it. She fell next to him and grabbed him. The coach was yelling at his guys and Ami was phoning the nurse.
"Haruka!"
Haruka could see the beautiful blue eyes full of tears for him. She could feel her skin against her face… it was such good feeling. She was warm, and the pain he felt just fade away. The places were her hands touched her skin were burning softly. He had never felt such a positive warmth. She pulled Haruka closer to he, so his head leaned near her neck. One of her head caressed her blonde hairs in a loving manner while the other was around his waist. She was feeling so good, she had injuries but wasn't feeling any pain. She could just feel her body, so near hers, and her beautiful head on his, kissing his hairs gently. Her sobbed had decreased but were wetting her short blonde hairs.
Michiru hadn't think, she had just seized Haruka instinctively. Her hands had found their way on him so easily… Seeing the blood had maddened her. He was so warm, and his skin had such a nice scent… she could feel his heard throbbing near hers. It was weird… the way she felt while having so near…
Then the nurse arrived, but Michiru didn't let go of Haruka. She was not really strong and athletic, but she handled him quite easily, he was not as heavy as men usually are. She led him to the hospital wing of the school. She helped him lie on a bed while the nurse, the coach and the girl were helping the other men. They were not in good shape, Haruka had hit with all her strength.
Michiru was sitting near Haruka. Now he seemed to be a little better. She hesitated to take his hand now. She had recovered her common sense and was a little ashamed by her previous behaviour. As if she wondered it, Haruka took hers and seized it in a warm way. She wanted Michiru to stay with her forever.
"Thanks Michiru."
"Well… I did nothing…"
She had love to hear her name pronounced by Haruka's mouth… i
"Michiru… I'm sorry you had to see this…"
"No matter, since you're all right. But why were you fighting… it was unfair… why all of them were against you?"
"To be honest, I'm the one who attacked."
"But why?"
"Nothing important… You know, men are rude and brutal. Men stories. I feel so embarrassed, you had to support me till here…"
"I… I was worried, that's all."
Suddenly, the coach entered the room.
"Tenoh! It seems that you attacked the guys!"
"Yes, I did. Sentence me as you please. I have no regrets."
"I hope you haven't! You're lucky you know?"
Haruka looked at the coach, puzzled.
"Well, there was cam at this place, we are in a modern school. And it
seems that you were just acting like a gentleman. Young lady, you have a good fellow, you know?"
"Please don't!" said Haruka.
"The guys were insulting you, and Tenoh took your defense." Said the coach. "There won't be any punishment, Tenoh."
Michiru looked at Haruka with astonishment. The coach left the room.
"So… you fought for me?"
"They were saying horrible things on you, I couldn't bear it…"
"You got those injuries because of me! You shouldn't have…"
"Hey! I'm not a namby-pamby! I can defend, but they were too many… But I the end I would have won. And those injuries are nothing you know…"
She tried to get up but couldn't help but utter a little sound of pain. She was more injured than she thought she was. Michiru laughed a bit.
"What were you saying? You men are too proud."
"Is it… is it why you don't have… a boyfriend? No, forget this… and don't thing I'm trying to date you, because that's not…"
Michiru laughed more.
"I'm not interested in men, I prefer arts. But the girls aren't better you know. I don't want a boyfriend… But if meet someone I love… what I mean is that I'm not like my friends you saw in the gymnasium, they always search for boyfriends, I don't, I just live my life doing what I like."
"That's what I do either."
Haruka had secretly hoped she would have said she was homosexual… but she seemed to be just a wise person. And she liked it. Michiru stayed the whole afternoon near Haruka, till his father came to pick him home.
"Ruka… you can't be a nice guy just for a day?" asked M. Tenoh.
"He just defended me." Said Michiru.
M. Tenoh had been afraid when he had saw Michiru standing next his son, but Haruka had made him understand that she didn't knew his secret. They argued on the way back.
"Haruka, it's dangerous… if she had recognized you…"
"You told me she wouldn't, I told her Emiko was my cousin. But don't worry, she didn't ask questions. And she didn't bring the subject anymore."
"Well… but I talked to the coach, and I saw the way you look at each other… tell me… what will you do when she will ask for more? Will you date her, without her knowing your real identity?"
"I… no… We won't date, that's all."
"I hope you're right… but just imagine her reaction if she just unbutton your shirt Ruka. Don't make any mistake, stay away from her."
M. Tenoh looked at his daughter, she was upset. He knew she was in love, but he had to remind her some realities. How would the girl react if she discovered the truth… she too seemed to appreciate Haruka. He blamed his wife everyday to have complicated their daughter's life so much.
