Chapter 5
The Concert
Michiru wanted to see Haruka again. That was the first time she was feeling this with someone… a need to be nearer and nearer… She had found his address and had planned to write him a letter, but to say what? The subject was given to her during her violin lesson on Wednesday evening. The teacher announced them that someone was to come in a minute to choose someone among them to be part of a concert. The chosen violinist would be alone on the scene, with a real public. It was a good occasion to begin a career. A woman came in and sat near the violinists. She observed each of them with great attention. At the end, she just talked with their teacher and they came back home without knowing who was the chosen one.
Michiru expected the answer with impatience. Before it would have been equal to her, but now she had ambition, she had take pleasure in competition. Now she was different, she had discovered that she liked to win.
When she arrived at home, alone as ever, she went to the room next her bedroom, the one where she usually make her drawings and paintings. The house was large, there were many rooms, but she was alone. Her mother had died from in an accident, and her father was a business man, he was always abroad. So she was alone with their butler most of the time. She looked at her last drawing. She have had a strange vision, she had drown Haruka, but with a woman corpse, he was dressed in blue and was nearly flying… She liked this drawing, but hoped he would never see it, for he would be shocked to see himself drawn as a girl. She herself didn't why she had done such a thing.
Haruka was in her car, she needed to drive to forget. The image of Michiru obsessed her; she needed to see her again. But her father was right. She imagined well the scene… She and Michiru near a bed, kissing, ready to go further… then Michiru would unbutton her shirt and would faint with horror. She didn't want to live such a scene. She had to forget Michiru. Now she was in front of Michiru's house, she stopped. She had found the address long ago, and came in this area very often, hoping unconsciously to catch a sight of the turquoise-haired girl. "Don't be stupid, Ruka. This girl deserve better than a tomboy… she needs a real man." Haruka left.
Michiru passed a bad week after this day, she was impatient to come back to the violin lesson. She wanted to know who was the chosen one… Her friends supported her.
"You are the winner, it's evident!" said Usagi.
"No one in this damned school can do better than you!" said Rei.
"What if you loose? You are good enough to begin a career without any help… will you take me as you singer?" asked Minako.
"If you loose; it will just mean you'll train more. If you loose I hope you'll do your best to challenge the winner." Said Makoto.
"There is no reason for her to loose, she practiced very much." Said Ami.
Finally, Wednesday arrived. She was tensed. The woman of the last time was present when hey arrived. Everyone sat down, they were all in the same state of agitation.
"Well… Last week I observed you all, and I made a decision. The who will participate the concert is… Kaioh Michiru."
Everyone congratulated her. She was not sure she had understood, maybe she was daydreaming…
"Miss Kaioh will have the chance to play violin alone on the scene in the multi instrument concert in two weeks. There will be talents from everywhere in the country. You'll have the right to invite your parents, or whoever you want."
The woman let the class begin. At the end she joined Michiru to give her indications on the concert. She wanted her to come and rehearse every evening before the concert. It would be demanding but Michiru loved to play violin, and she was glad to have the occasion to become a pro. And she had an idea on who she would invite… her father wouldn't come. Why would he leave Italy just to see his daughter playing violin on a concert? And more, she would be on TV. She planned to invite Haruka. Of course, she ignored the blonde preferred avoid her as she ignored the fight in Haruka's heart and soul.
So she sent Haruka a letter a few days later, with an invitation for her. Haruka felt a deep joy in herself when she read the letter. Michiru wanted her to come and see her in this concert… Michiru liked her then… No, she liked him. She finally decided that she couldn't go. It would not be reasonable, and at the same time the very thought of her, the fact that she couldn't see her… it made her heart awfully painful.
Dear Michiru,
I'm sorry but I can't accept your invitation. I truly appreciate you, but I think it's better for you not to see me anymore. I can only bring you troubles and pain. Maybe if I was different… well, I think that's all…
Sorry,
Tenoh Haruka
She sent the letter to Michiru, but forgot to put the invitation in the envelope. She had kept Michiru's letter in her inner pocket; it had her perfume, this strange but pleasant scent of the ocean.
Michiru began to cry when she read the little letter… She didn't expected this, nor she expected to feel so much pain at the idea of never see Haruka again. She had far less enthusiasm at playing violin in the concert now. But she had to. And the night arrived quicker than she had expected.
She was feeling tensed, but not happy anymore. She wasn't smiling at all. Other people who were approximately the same age as hers were standing in the wings, agitated, verifying their instruments. She was sitting on a chair, in a long silvery-shining dress which material reminded the water, her arms crossed, and her violin locked in its case. Soon it was her turn to play…
Haruka had felt depressed since she had sent the letter to Michiru. She had talked with her father about it, and he had agreed that it was the best solution. She sat at her desk, pensive. The concert was tonight. She turned on the TV. It had began. There were more than a hundred people invited. They were sitting at round tables. She would have given anything to be with them, to see his Mermaid and the charming sound of her violin… Suddenly, she saw it… the invitation was still on her desk. She didn't thought of it twice. She put on a tux and grabbed the invitation and the key of her car and left the house.
Michiru was not feeling very well, but she had to concentrate on the violin, there was no place for errors tonight. She had been chosen between her whole class, and probably between every violin classes in the country, because it was national and that she was the only violinist… But Haruka wasn't here… And she wouldn't see him anymore… But what mistake did she make with him? She didn't remember to have said something that could have hurt him… She went on the scene. They were much people. Then she saw him, he was sitting at a table with a large bunch of red roses and was wearing a tux that suited him perfectly. She recovered all her joy and energy in a second. Haruka was there, he had come to see her playing, so she was going to play more beautifully and perfectly than she never did before.
Haruka had managed to find a good place, not to far from the scene. She has a special invitation for being invited by one of the musicians, so she had no problem to have a good seat. She had stopped to buy roses, to excuse herself for her answer. Michiru was beautiful, more than she had never been. There was a wonderful light in her eyes that filled her with a strange warmth. Michiru was not alone. Haruka was looking at her with his deep green eyes that gave her wings. She played wonderfully that night.
After the concert Haruka came to her to give her the bunch of red roses.
"These are… well I hope you'll forgive me…" said Haruka.
Michiru took the roses with a smile, her eyes still in Haruka's. She suddenly threw herself in his arms. Haruka felt surprised, but not indifferent, embraced Michiru more tightly. Having her like this in her arms was such a pleasant sensation… Then she realized Michiru was sobbing.
"What is upsetting you?"
"I… I was so sad… I thought I wouldn't see you anymore."
"I thought It too…"
"But why?"
"I… I can't tell you, I'm sorry…"
"Haruka… I think… well, I don't know this feeling… but I think I… I think I love you."
There it was, she had said it. If love existed, it had to be what she was feeling. She was in love, she knew it. Haruka wanted to run away, she wanted to ignore her words, she was going to tell Michiru she wasn't in love with her, that they were just friends, but… She kissed her.
"I love you too Michiru."
The words had left her mouth just like this… now she was in a real mess, but she couldn't help but feel glad for Michiru loved her. No, she loved him.
Michiru was somewhat flying, she had the impression of living the ground in Haruka's arms. She felt she was becoming dependant of the blonde's contact, of her warm lips on hers. And she understood at this moment that nothing was worth than love. They stayed in their embrace for quite a while, feeling relieved. Haruka forgot quickly her problems, she just was with Michiru, kissing her, her hand around her thin waist and at this precise moment, nothing was more important.
