Chapter 5

Dating Secretly

Michiru was living the most wonferful days of her life. She had never been in love before, but now she knew she couldn't stop it that easily (and she didn't want to stop). They kept dating secretly for about three months now. Haruka wanted it to be like this. She didn't want her father to know. But Haruka knew she would have to tell Michiru the truth about herself one say or another. She had tried many times, but when she looked in Michiru deep blue eyes… she immediately changed her mind. She didn't wanted to loose her, though she knew she was increasing her chances of loosing her as their relation went on… Michiru trusted him so much. Would it be the same when she'll know that he lied her since the very beginning?

They passed not much time together; but every little moment was so precious. They had always the greatest difficulty to leave each other. But Haruka preferred to keep it secret; so they couldn't see as much as they wanted to. The person from who she wanted to hide was her father. If he knew; he would force her to part from Michiru.

Michiru passed much more time on her drawing… and her preferred subject was Haruka. But she didn't understand why she kept drawing him as a woman… She had never showed him her drawings, he would laugh at her if she knew what she imagined. She trusted him and showed him every of her others paintings and drawings… but never those strange images… She often tried to draw him as a man, but her hand couldn't help but draw breasts and a thin feminine body. Well… he has a thin body, she felt it when she seized him, and he was not much more heavy than herself… and she was already thin for a girl. Men were usually heavier. But that was a detail. Haruka was so masculine. Her imagination was too rich, that was all.

Haruka was nervous, the summer had arrived. She was going to see Michiru much more now. One part of her was glad, but the other part was afraid… summer was a time when you go to the beach… and she knew if she went to the beach with her, Michiru would find out automatically. And they were becoming nearer every time they saw each other… it was becoming hard to resist Michiru's charms, nearly painful… But she had to. So what would happen now she was able to see her nearly every day? Maybe she should tell her just now. Before she discovers by herself. Moreover, she knew that summer was not the only problem… at the end of the holidays, they were going to university, Haruka was moving in a flat… so they would be alone much more than before. She kept asking herself every day why she didn't tell her at the precise moment he met her… well… this was easy to answer, her father wanted it to be kept secret, and at the time it was not the matter, she had decided not to see her anymore… but why had she waited so long? Or just told her before dating? She was stupid, and above all, she was in a mess.

She was arrived at Michiru's place. She would bring her to the great aquarium that had opened a few days ago. It was a distraction. She knew that today, the beach problem wouldn't occur. She had planned every days of the holidays by advance in order not to let Michiru propose her to go to the beach or to the swimming pool, and it had been difficult; Michiru really wanted to swim. And Haruka knew it was part of her.

Michiru opened the door. She was beautiful as ever. Haruka had planned, as every days, to tell her the truth.

"Hi Michiru… I… I'd like to talk to you seriously today. I've got something important to tell you…"

Michiru was looking at her with brilliant loving eyes. She was wearing a pale blue little summer dress. One of her hand was playing with her curly hairs.

"Something serious… so soon in the morning? And without a kiss first?"

Haruka saw a little worried expression on her face. She couldn't resist. She took Michiru in her arms and kissed her lips gently; her hand travelling from her neck to her back.

"I'm sorry, I didn't wanted to worry you…"

"Well… you come, you don't kiss me and tell me that you have something serious to tell… Who wouldn't be worried? So what do you have to tell that is so serious?"

"I… I am…"

She was still holding Michiru. She precisely had an idea of what she would do in such a moment if there wasn't this secret between them…

"I am in love with you. Sorry, but can't help myself but to tell it to you once more… you're so beautiful today, and you always are."

"Oh Ruka… you always have a strange way to tell the things… I love you too. And I love you more every day. It's so much better now we can see nearly every day… I thought we could go to the beach today…"

"No! No… I'd like to show you the new aquarium today… maybe we shoud go to the beach another day…"

Michiru was staring at Haruka. He was so strange, since the beginning of the holidays he always avoided the beach, but the weather was so sunny, and he knew how much she liked it. And the strangest thing was his panicked look at earing the word…

"Ruka… are you scared of going to the beach? I know! You can't swim!"

"I can swim! I'm a good swimmer, not as qualified as you, that's sure, but I am."

"How can you tell I'm better than you? We never swam together as far as I remember…"

She was becoming suspicious; Haruka had to find something…

"Well… everyone tell you are the best in the whole town… and my cousin… Emiko… you won against her… and she's better than I am, so…"

"Oh… yes, Emiko. But I'd like to see how you swim… and maybe to see a little more of you…"

She caressed his shoulders in a tender manner. Haruka knew what she meant. They've never seen each other naked. And she always made sure not to get in any situation it could occur. In those summer days, it was becoming hard.

"Yes. Me too… but today I'd like to bring you to the new aquarium, I know how much you like sea and fishes…"

"It's a good idea… I wanted to go."

Haruka knew it was the truth, but he also knew to the tone of her voice she would have wanted to do something else this day.

So they went to the aquarium. When they arrived, Haruka wondered if it was a good idea after all… He thought it was a more peaceful place… but it was full of tourists and people from the town… and many people she knew… But it was the aquarium or the beach. He preferred people to discover she was dating than Michiru to discover she was a girl…

In the aquarium, they met people from her former school and from Michiru's, the whole town seemed to have gathered here. The only two positive thoughts in all this were Michiru being with her, when she was here, nothing really mattered, and the fact that her father couldn't be here; for he was working. So they peacefully looked at the beautiful fishes. Michiru seemed in her element, she was so calm…

"Aren't you scared?" asked Michiru.

"Not really. I'm with you." Said Haruka.

"But if everyone knows…"

"My father isn't here, he won't know."

"Maybe someone will tell him; we saw so much people…"

"I know there is a risk. But it's all right as you are with me."

Haruka seized Michiru by behind and kissed her in the neck. What she had just tell her was the truth, she feared nothing while her mermaid was near…

"Ruka?"

Haruka felt suddenly that the worries were beginning… why did she entered this place? She let go of Michiru and looked behind her. Her father was standind, along with some important characters…

"Dad… why are you here?"

He seemed angry, but didn't show it in front of the others.

"I invested in this place; along with those messieurs. So we're visiting it. I'll see you at home."

Haruka knew she would have to explain herself. A little while before, she could have pretend they had just met while visiting the place… but she was in her arms… Her father left.

"Haruka… I'm sorry…"

"Don't apologize, it entirely my fault. You wanted to go to the beach, if I had respected your choice… I won't have met him" " but you would have met me…"

They left the aquarium too. Michiru looked sad and worried. He was driving her home. She knew Haruka would have problems. She feared Haruka's father reaction… maybe he would forbid him to see her… Haruka knew what she was thinking. And she couldn't bear to see her so worried. She was worried too, but she would fight. She wouldn't let her father win. She loved Michiru and would do anything to stay with her.

"Don't worry Sweetheart… I won't let him. I love you too much to let you down."

"What will you do if he forbids you to see me, Ruka?"

"I won't accept. I'm moving in less than a week, no matter if I have to argue with him. You're more important to me than anyone in the world."

They were in front of Michiru's house. They had spent the whole afternoon walking around the beach. Haruka had finally find a way to go without being half naked. She said she was hated swimming in the sea. And Michiru hadn't insisted. So they had just wandered in the sand and bathed their feet. Now she had to let Michiru go back home… every evening it was becoming harder and harder… She wanted to be with her anytime anywhere. Without her… it was as if she lacked something, like she wasn't complete. She grabbed her waist and kissed her lovingly. Her hands wandered farther and farther on her body. Her desire increased everytime. She knew that Michiru was feeling the same about her… no about him. She suddenly parted. Every day, it was also becoming more and more difficult to bear this idea that Michiru desired him… not her. She was stupid. Michiru desired a man. And beneath her clothes, she didn't correspond to her desire and she knew it.

"Ruka? What's wrong?" asked Michiru.

"Nothing. I have to go… to fight my father." Her tone was a little more rude than she wanted it to be. Michiru sighed. A little drop fell from one of her eye.

"Don't cry! Honey… I'm sorry."

She grabbed Michiru and kissed her beautiful face again and again. Finally Michiru smiled as she was holding Michiru head in her hands, caressing her blonde hairs.

"You're sweet… so… unlike the other men… I love you Haruka."

Michiru kissed her lover one more time, then she exited the car to let Haruka go. She still hold her hand for a while before letting her go.

Haruka arrived home sooner than she would have wanted… and her father had arrived before her. He waited her; sitting in the living room.

"So you finally arrived!" said M. Tenoh in a angry voice.

"I'm sorry, I had to drive Michiru home.

"So let's talk about this…"

"There is nothing to talk about. I love her and she loves me. I will stay with her whatever you say."

"You said she loves you? Interesting… so she knows… who you are?"

Haruka lowered her head and sat in the armchair, her head in the hands.

"So she don't really loves you… she loves him." Said her father.

He had hit a hurting point. It was what she thought, but she wouldn't let him win.

"I'm this "him" you're talking about… so there is no matter!"

"You aren't, and you perfectly know it. I know this girl, everyone keeps talking about her. Her father is a great business man. And she is the most beautiful, gracious and gifted girl of this age in this town. No wonder you fell in love with such a girl. But remind who you are."

"I know who I am, thanks. And I'm in love with her. I will tell her who I am. Will you accept her after? If she stills love me?"

"I will see. I expected you to love a girl… but I just didn't expected you to lie."

"I'll tell her as soon as I can."