Chapter two! Have fun!
"Haruka-san?" Usagi asked suddenly, swallowing a mouthful of cake and shutting the box.
"What is it, Kitten?" Haruka asked, glancing at the blonde-haired girl before focussing back on her driving.
"Do you remember when we first met?"
"At the arcade, you mean?" Haruka asked, risking another glance at Usagi to see the nostalgic smile on her face.
"Yeah. I thought my heart would stop when I saw you – I thought you were so handsome! I was so desperate to talk to you. And then you played with Mina and me, on the driving game? You totally wiped the floor with us! It was amazing." Usagi said, voice full of amazement and wonder. Haruka felt herself blushing, then cursed herself for it. She hardly ever blushed. Why now?!
"But you thought I was a man then, Usagi-chan." She pointed out reasonably, trying to rationalise the blush off her face.
"But it's the same feeling whether a man or a woman. I think I would have fallen in love with Mamo-chan even if he was a girl. Maybe he'd understand better if he was." She said, suddenly sounding bitter. Haruka didn't miss it.
"Did something happen?" She asked. She dearly wanted to get a good look at the long-haired girl, but all she could do was glance once more. Usagi was looking at the cake boxes in her lap. Surprisingly, though, she pushed them away instead of eating them.
"Mamo-chan is staying there for another two years." Usagi said, and shoved the boxes from her lap. When Haruka looked at her again, there was a disgusted expression on her face.
"Did you try to tell him you didn't want him to?" Haruka ventured quietly.
"I did tell him." Usagi replied, clenching her hands on her lap. "But… But he said that he had to do this and that I was already used to being without him so a little longer wouldn't hurt." She said, wrinkling her nose.
"Wow." Haruka whistled. "But don't think that making him a girl would get rid of the problem." Reminded of Michiru, Haruka also wrinkled her nose.
"Uh… Haruka-san, did something to you too?" Usagi asked. Haruka sighed.
"I found Michiru cheating on me again." Haruka admitted. Usagi stared at her.
"Again?! But it's only been a week since the last time!" Usagi said disbelievingly.
"I know that." Haruka said, sighing. She unconsciously pressed harder on the accelerator. The responsive car sped up at once. Usagi sat back in her seat to save craning her neck against the force, but didn't feel unsafe at all.
"So… What are you going to do this time?" Usagi asked uncertainly. She'd tried to talk her friend out of going back to Michiru before, but hadn't managed to convince her.
"I don't know. I haven't been home yet." Haruka sighed, easing off the gas. They stopped at a traffic light.
"Then… Are you going to go home?" Usagi asked quietly. Haruka turned to face her, looking confused.
"What else can I do?" She asked. Usagi was blushing.
"You could kick her out… Or you could… come and stay with me for a while." Usagi said slowly.
"Come and… What?" Haruka asked, eyes wide. Blushing further, Usagi fumbled with her own hands.
"I… I mean that Mamo-chan has been away and even though Rei-chan and the others come to stay sometimes it's sort of lonely and I… I mean I… Never mind. Forget I mentioned it." Usagi mumbled.
"No, I don't want to forget you mentioned it, Usagi-chan. What about Mamoru-san, you don't think he'll mind? He knows I'm bisexual." Haruka found herself blushing for the second time that morning and again inwardly cursed herself. Was she really considering staying with Usagi..?
"He doesn't care at all. And even if he did, he's in the US. There's nothing he can do about it and he doesn't look to be coming home any time soon anyway." Usagi said, glancing at Haruka, who was still staring at her with an open mouth. "Uh… The light's green, Haruka-san."
With a few choice swearwords, Haruka sped away from the light. She didn't even spare a thought to being thankful that there was no-one behind her.
The rest of the journey went silently. As they came close to Usagi's apartment, she began picking up the cake boxes at her feet, knowing the cake would be destroyed but not caring at all.
"I guess I'll… See you some time?" Usagi ventured as Haruka pulled up the handbrake but didn't turn off the engine. She really did want the older girl to stay with her, but Haruka was obviously not keen. If she was, she'd at least have turned off the engine…
"Usagi-chan." Haruka said. Usagi looked up hopefully. "Can I come in… For a while..?" She asked awkwardly. Usagi beamed at her, and Haruka once again blushed. She cursed yet again.
"Please do come in, Haruka-san!" She said cheerfully, and Haruka silently turned off the engine and got out the car. She slammed the door, waited for Usagi to slam her own, and locked it. She followed, again in silence, as Usagi led her up to an apartment building. Together they ascended several flights of concrete steps, passing apartment door after apartment door. Just when Haruka was wondering how many flights they'd climbed, Usagi stopped. She balanced the boxes in one hand and on her hip, and then extracted the key from her pocket and unlocked the door, pushing it open. Entering, she kicked off her shoes and headed to the kitchen to put down her boxes. Standing in the foot-well, Haruka hesitated. The door clicked shut behind her.
She'd been to Usagi's apartment many times when Mamoru was there, and many more after he'd left, but it was still strange. This time, she knew if she passed the threshold then she'd be staying. Usagi soon returned, noticing the grave look on Haruka's face.
"Haruka-san, you aren't coming in..?" She asked. Haruka stared at her intently for several long moments.
"Are you sure it's okay?" She asked quietly, seriously. Usagi quickly realised this was her last chance to back out of this potential relationship. With the most sincere smile she'd felt in a long time, Usagi answered cheerfully.
"I'd really like for you to come in, Haruka-san!"
So there we are. The beginning of a relationship? I think so. They're too cute a couple for me to resist 3 Hope you liked it ^^
