Knock Knock

There was someone at her door. That wasn't right. No one said they were coming by. Fumi was confused. Who was here at this hour anyway? It was almost seven. Who would come here after dark?

Against her better judgment, Fumi opened the door. Who was standing there was not someone she ever expected to see again. And someone who she wasn't sure she did ever want to see again.

"Happy birthday, Fumi."

Out of all the people that could've been at her door at this hour, why was it Michiru. How was it Michiru? As far as Fumi was aware the girl should not have her address. Who gave it to her? Or did she somehow figure it out on her own?

Fumi narrowed her eyes at the smaller girl, "Why are you here?"

Michiru smiled innocently at her in reply, "To wish you a happy birthday."

"Then leave."

"You aren't going to let me in? It's a ten minute walk back to the bus stop and it's snowing now." Michiru stated.

Fumi sighed, "Fine. You can come in for a few minutes. You aren't staying longer than an hour. Understand?"

"Fine." Michiru agreed.

Fumi felt like she was going to regret this, but she stepped back and allowed Michiru entrance into her house. Michiru started exploring the place. Fumi was waiting for her to comment on it, but she remained silent.

Out of everyone in Siegfeld, Michiru was the one Fumi wanted to see the least. For one very specific reason. They had been girlfriends. They had been dating. And then Fumi just left. She never said a word to Michiru. She didn't break off their relationship beforehand. Fumi assumed Michiru got the message when she never replied to her.

"How was your day?" Michiru asked, bringing Fumi out of her head.

"Fine." Fumi didn't want to talk much.

"I guess I'm not very welcome here, am I?" Michiru said.

"How did you get my address?" Fumi backed her into a wall to make sure she couldn't escape without answering.

"Someone told me." Michiru replied.

"Why did you come here? I didn't want to see you again!" Fumi backed off and walked toward the edge of the room.

"Is that any way to treat your girlfriend? I just came to give you a present." Michiru stated.

Michiru still called her her girlfriend. Fumi wasn't sure how to take that. Did Michiru still hold out hope that Fumi still wanted to date her?

"We aren't girlfriends." Fumi stated firmly, "I thought you'd have got the message when I left."

"I don't believe you." Michiru said, "I don't think you want to break up with me."

Fumi refused to look at her. Because she was right. Fumi didn't want to break up. She... she did want Michiru. But, it couldn't work. It couldn't. Not after everything.

"Here. I got you a necklace."

Fumi jumped. Michiru had come over to her already. She held out a box. Fumi hesitated. Michiru pushed it closer. Fumi took the box.

She examined the outside for a while, before finally opening it. Inside was a necklace like Michiru had said. It was a necklace with a silver rose in the middle. It looked pretty.

Fumi picked it up and looked at it. Michiru had really gone out of her way to get this for her. This must have been expensive.

"Thank you..." Fumi started crying.

"F-Fumi?" Michiru was startled by the sudden tears.

"I... I'm happy..." Fumi said, "You... you still care after everything I've done..."

Michiru hugged her tightly. At least she wasn't upset. That would've been bad.

"I love you, Fumi." Michiru whispered, "I really do. And I don't want to leave you."

"Love you..." Fumi replied as she tightened her grip on the smaller girl, "Please... please forgive me... I'm sorry I left without a word... I'm sorry."

Hearing Fumi open up was unusual. Even beforehand, Fumi kept herself quite hidden. Michiru didn't know how to react.

"I forgive you, Fumi. I know why you left now. It's not your fault. I'm glad you left if it's helped you." Michiru replied.

Fumi looked at her. Michiru smiled at her. Fumi blushed.

"Can I kiss you?" Michiru asked.

Fumi nodded. Michiru kissed her on the cheek. Fumi smiled slightly.

"Am I still only allowed to stay for an hour?" Michiru questioned.

Fumi looked away. Now she felt bad about acting like an ass to Michiru. The girl just wanted to make amends.

"No... actually, I'd really like if you would stay for the night." Fumi mumbled.

"All night?" Michiru asked.

Fumi nodded. Michiru had to think about it. It was a school day tomorrow too. That would mean she'd have to get up early to catch a bus home. But, it would be worth it. She would get to spend time with Fumi again. That was more than enough to convince her.

"I know it's not the most ideal timing with classes tomorrow, but I want to talk to you more and the last bus leaves in an hour." Fumi said.

"It's fine. I'll just need to get up quite early is all." Michiru reassured her, "I'll stay."

"You will?"

Michiru nodded, "Yep. I want to talk to you again too."

Fumi smiled, "I'm glad."

"So... what do you want to do?"

"I think first I should apologize for how I treated you earlier." Fumi said.

"It's okay." Michiru replied, "I forgive you."

"And... thank you."

Michiru smiled at Fumi, "You're welcome. Will you try on the necklace?"

Fumi nodded. She silently put it on. It fit well. It was comfortable.

"How does it look?" Fumi couldn't see it herself unless she went to find a mirror.

"It suits you. I knew it would." Michiru replied.

"Thank you..."

"So, I have one question. Are we still dating?"

Fumi didn't give an answer right away, as much as she wanted to. Officially saying they were dating still would open up a door to Siegfeld again. Even if Fumi put up boundaries, she doubted she could keep the others away entirely.

"Answer me this. Did you tell anyone where you were going?" Fumi asked in reply. She needed to know that first.

"I told them I was going to visit a friend. I didn't say who so if they figure it out it's not on me." Michiru replied.

"Promise this will remain only between us? At least for a while. I... need time to get ready to see them again." Fumi said.

"Sure." Michiru agreed quite easily, "I won't tell a soul until you're ready."

Fumi cracked a smile. She missed this side of Michiru. Behind the toughness and her very well known sadistic smile, there was also this softness. Only Fumi bore witness to it. Even Akira never saw this side of Michiru.

"Would you like some tea? You must be cold from the weather."

"Sure~" Michiru hummed in reply.

"Come on. I have a few different ones. You can pick which one you'd like the most."

It was so natural for them to be beside each other again. It was almost as if they had never stopped.

"Michiru? Since it's my birthday... would you let me request something from you?" Fumi asked once they were comfortably sat in the living room.

"Hmm... sure."

"Even if just for tonight... can we continue as if nothing happened between us?"

"Of course." Michiru agreed, "Does that mean you want to cuddle?"

Fumi blushed, "M-maybe..."

Michiru grinned as she moved over to sit right beside Fumi on the couch. She rested herself against Fumi's side. This was just like back then. It felt strange after not doing this for so long.

Fumi wrapped an arm around Michiru's shoulder. Just for tonight she wanted Michiru all to herself again. She could be a little greedy, right? It was her birthday. That should be enough of an excuse.

"How have you been doing since I've left?" Fumi didn't want to ask too much right away. She'd wait a bit before asking for her next request.

"I've been okay. It was hard at first. Especially when Shiori joined us. I couldn't help but sometimes see you in her. And that kept opening the wounds you left..."

"I'm sorry." Fumi kissed her on the head, "I only thought about my own feelings. I hadn't considered how you would react."

"It's okay. Actually, Shiori helped a lot. She knew about how hard it was for me at first, so she would keep her distance. It gave me a chance to heal. Now she's always around me. I don't need her to hide from me."

"Shiori always was a caring girl." Fumi commented, "How was she?"

"She was hurt a lot too. And I think she really wanted to be with me. Since we both were hit hard. But, Mei Fan kind of adopted Shiori as a younger sister. That helped her out."

"Yeah... I wish I could face her... but I'm not ready yet."

"Take your time. Shiori will understand."

"I hope so."

They fell into silence for a bit. It was a comfortable silence. It was nice to be together again like this, but Fumi wanted something more. She was embarrassed to ask for it, though.

"Michiru? Can I kiss you?" Fumi eventually gathered herself and asked.

"Yes~" Michiru hummed.

Fumi kissed her a lot more passionately and deeper than Michiru had expected. She thought it would be a simple peck. Seemed like Fumi wanted this to be more of a make-out session.

Michiru kissed her back. She found herself pinned against the couch before long. They didn't break apart until they needed to breathe.

"Man." Michiru giggled, "I've missed that a lot."

"So have I." Fumi replied, "I hope you didn't think that was it."

"Oh? You have more planned?" Michiru teased.

"To make up for all the days we've been apart. I'm not stopping until I have to." Fumi replied, a determined, but loving look in her eyes.

Michiru felt her heart racing faster, "Then what are you waiting for?"

Fumi accepted the invitation and pulled Michiru into another kiss. Oh how she missed this. They'd kiss every day back in Siegfeld. It seemed both of them very much missed that normality.

DIVIDER--

At some point they made it into Fumi's bed. They were snuggling together. It was late, but neither seemed ready to go to bed yet.

"Michiru... thank you. This has been one of the best birthdays I've had."

"Aww... you're welcome, Fumi." Michiru kissed her on the cheek.

Fumi let out a small laugh, "To think at first I was assuming you'd ruin my birthday."

Michiru laughed as well, "Meanie! Why would I ever do that?"

"I don't know. But, I'm glad you came here. Though, who did give you my address?" Fumi questioned.

"Yuyuko did."

"Yuyuko? I suppose you have been becoming friendly with her. Was this why?"

"No. We share some interests. That was all."

"Well, I'll have to scold her for giving out my address without asking first."

"I doubt she'd give it to someone if she didn't trust their intentions." Michiru said.

"And how come she trusted you?"

"She actually was there when I bought the necklace. I had planned at first just to give it to her to give to you on my behalf, but she said I should do it myself."

"I guess I can't be mad at her. She just wanted to help. And she did, didn't she?"

"Yep. Because of her we're back together again~"

"Anyway... it's late. If you have to get up early we better get some rest." Fumi stated.

"Yeah. That's true. We should make plans for the weekend. That way I can come over and not worry." Michiru said.

"Then remind me in the morning to give you my new number." Fumi replied.

"Okay~ Goodnight, Fumi. I love you."

Fumi kissed her, "And I love you. Goodnight."

They snuggled up as close to the other as possible and drifted off. They were both content. Tonight had been good.

Fumi wouldn't doubt if this was the best birthday she had so far.