Chapter 3 - But we play my rules
Michiru spent the following day shopping. She needed a nice dress. Her father was seeing that lunch as the most official thing. It was his first meeting with his future son-in-law. Michiru quickly found what she wanted. She wondered if Haruka would dress as a man though. She did at school with the uniform but was she doing the same with casual clothes? The situation was dangerous. She was thinking hard about Haruka's clothing as she was waiting for the bus when her eyes fell on a couple of friends. Or so she thought. The girls seemed like friends to her until one of them placed her lips on the other one's for a kiss. At first Michiru thought it was not really correct to do that in the street. I was doing something like that myself not long ago… And it hadn't been shocking, not disgusting. Just the best kiss ever. Her eyes suddenly fell on someone else… Haruka was shopping too, accompanied by two blondes that Michiru knew as Minako and Tsukino Usagi. Michiru crossed the street.
« … I wonder why you are trying to look good for her. She rejected you. She's a damn homophobic person. » said Minako.
« It's not for her, I need new clothes. »
They didn't see her. But Michiru could hear each word. She felt her heart pierced again as she could see Minako and her friend clinging to Haruka's arms. Were Haruka and Minako… dating? Suddenly they caught sight of her.
« Michiru-san… » began Haruka.
But Michiru did as though she hadn't seen them and walked away, in fact she almost ran. That day she took her bus at the next station.
Home, Michiru let escape the tears she held in for so long. Why was she jealous like that? Haruka did look like a man, but she wasn't one. Michiru couldn't possibly be in love with someone like her… Not ever… But here she was, crying over suppositions. Crying over someone she was supposed to hate, that she was not supposed to desire.
Next day, Haruka arrived on time. She was wearing a pair of brand new masculine jeans, a dark blue shirt and beneath it, a white sleeveless top that revealed her shapes.
« We have a problem… »
Haruka handed her flowers.
« As you invited me for lunch, I thought I could offer you flowers. See no understatements in that action. It's just out of politeness. »
« Thanks… They are beautiful, I love roses. »
« Your dress is… beautiful. I feel like I should have dressed better. »
« Oh… well… thanks… but you know if you just buttoned this nice shirt… and put the bottom of it inside your pair of jeans… my father will mistake you for a man. »
Michiru didn't wait for an answer, she pulled the flowers beside her and buttoned Haruka's shirt and quickly put the bottom of the shirt in the trousers. As she was doing, Haruka surprised herself thinking how great it would have been if she had been undressing her instead. But just the touch of her… It was truly hard to resist. Michiru was so close to her. She could have closed her embrace around her so easily and the kiss was barely an inch away. Michiru was truly nervous. Three kinds of thoughts were fighting in her mind. First was how much she desired Haruka, second was how she shouldn't be thinking about such things, and third was the fear her father would step in and see his daughter dealing with Haruka's clothes. From outside it seemed she was helping her to dress again like lovers afraid to be caught after lovemaking. Such a thing didn't happen. Michiru took the roses and Haruka to the kitchen where she placed them in a vase. That's when her father came in.
« Michiru! Why did you bring Tenoh-san here? You shouldn't bring guest into the kitchen! Get out and let the maid take care of that. Well… Glad to meet you Tenoh-san. »
« Me as well… »
Haruka suddenly understood why Michiru had been so worried about her clothing… Her father was wearing a complete suit with tie and all…
Luckily, Michiru's father didn't pronounce the word « marriage » or « engagement » and didn't refer to Haruka as a man. That was a miracle.
« Father… Now we are going to go to the music room, we have an important duet to work on for music class. »
« Oh yes, of course. I'll be out for the rest of the afternoon. So behave, you two. Remember you're not married yet. »
Haruka opened wide eyes, but Michiru caught her arm and dragged her away before she could say anything. She released her grasp only when they reached the soundproof music room.
« What was he talking about? » asked Haruka half-surprised, half-irritated.
« Nothing, really… »
« Married, he said not married… Not married YET! What did you tell your father? »
« Nothing! He jumped to conclusions. »
« Then lets go explain. »
« NO! »
« Why no? »
« Because… Because he won't listen. Haruka, please listen to me, we'll sort out this mess in time but before I'm gonna explain. »
« Go on, I can't see how you will get out of that one but… »
« There are laws in my family, traditions. It says that if there is a kiss shared, the couple as to marry. »
« What? »
« We did it…we k… k… »
« You can't even pronounced it! Yes, we kissed! Kaioh Michiru kissed a woman. »
« I know, I know… »
« How will you get out of that? I can't marry you even if I wanted to, and I don't. »
« I know… I'll find a way… But can you just play the fiancé until I can think of something? »
« No. »
« Haruka, please listen to me… If you don't he's gonna create you a lot of troubles, he's very influent, he could destroy your life. »
« Really? »
« Yes, I do it for you as well as for me. »
« Right… But we play my rules. »
« Your rules? »
« We'll act as a real couple anywhere. »
« What? »
« It doesn't imply sex. But we will be like Siamese. »
« I don't get why… You hate me, why would you….»
« You don't need to know. Now lets work on this duet's score. »
Michiru held out sheets and her violin. Haruka sat at the piano.
« Can I hear you play first? » asked Michiru.
« Why? »
« You already heard my playing on the CD, I never heard yours. »
« As you wish. »
Haruka began to play. Michiru watched her closely. That's what she called not to be passionate by music? She quickly understood Haruka was as passionate as she was. It reflected on the way her hands flied on the piano keys, and this look on her face, so free. Michiru felt like bewitched. This was so wonderful. But she couldn't stay still, she held out her violin and began a duet. The song was easy, she didn't know it but it was like she could guess it just by watching, by being next to Haruka. The end of the play came too early. Michiru pulled her violin on the piano and sat down next to Haruka.
« It was… »
« great. »
Michiru turned her head to face Haruka. What she saw on her face, she didn't really understand what it was at that precise moment, all she knew was that it was the most beautiful expression she had seen on a human being's face. The expression in her eyes, on her face, that general impression of perfection was the most beautiful ever to Michiru's eyes.
Haruka didn't stay long after that. They worked a bit on the score, but they were not in the mood for doing such things as schoolwork. When she found herself alone, Michiru went to her drawing room. She had this sudden urge to create something. She began to draw. First she followed her instinct, body shapes began to appear… feminine shapes, of a person who looked like flying… then a face… That's only when she got the drawing completely finished that she understood she had been drawing Haruka. She's such a beautiful person…