Disclaimer: the usual

A/N: Thanks for your reviews and your mails ^.^ sorry if sometimes it takes me a bit to write back. To those anonymous reviewers, thanks too…but get accounts come on :P so I can answer your questions! Anyway here is chapter 11 I hope you enjoy it as much as I did when I wrote it.

A Lesson on Love

By Auraluna7

Chapter 11: Fair Play

Michiru bitted her thumbnail for a moment looking for an idea. There had to be a practical solution to this situation. She stood between the door and Haruka who seemed more and more lenient to just open the door and let the world know, but that could get her fired and that for Michiru made opening the door out of the question. "I know what to do, I have an idea."

Raising an eyebrow Haruka wondered what that could possibly be. "You better not suggest me climbing out the window because not only is that ridiculous I don't fit through it." Michiru shook her head smiling, the amusing image of Haruka's behind stuck on the small window too vivid. She snapped out of her funny moment when Kasumi knocked the door again. "Michiru are you ok? Now I am seriously worried."

"I am fine. You guys can go." Michiru knew that was not going to work but she had to try, that was not her big idea anyway.

Kasumi shook her head; this was getting too strange, Rain still standing next to her. "Did she just suddenly got ill or something Rain?"

The redhead shook her head. "She's just been there too long so I came to see what was going on."

"Hmmm." Kasumi licked her lower lip nervously; she liked this less and less every second. She could not find Haruka and now Michiru refused to leave the bathroom, it was all very suspicious.

"What's going on?" Kasumi turned around to meet Rain's twin, she smiled a bit thinking of how under other circumstances she would love to try and see if dating twins was as fun as it sounded, but right now her mind had to focus on Michiru and Haruka.

"Michiru is in there, I think she's sick." Hail listened to her sister's words with worried expression.

"Sick how?"

"We don't know." Hail looked up to the blonde she somehow had missed standing next to Rain, she was very attractive, with long gold hair, dressed in soft golden ruffled shirt, black skirt and golden sandals she looked like a Greek Goddess, though Hail found the gray eyes too cold to consider her a flawless beauty. "I'm Kasumi Tani by the way."

"Hail Tenki." Kasumi smiled, Hail turned to the door and knocked softly. "Michiru, it's me Hail, do you need help in there?

"Oh my god, all we're missing is Akira out there too." Michiru whispered to Haruka, and the blonde snorted. "Oh this isn't funny…" Michiru had to laugh a bit too; well maybe it was a little funny. "Hide again; I have an idea, hurry; before they bring in an ambulance or something." Rolling her eyes Haruka stood against the wall and again Michiru half opened the door blocking the entrance. She smiled at the three girls outside the bathroom. "Hi."

"Are you ok?" Hail asked concerned, she stepped closer but Michiru remained blocking the door.

"Hum…yeah…" Kasumi didn't look as distressed as the twins; she did however look to be searching for something on Michiru's expression and even peaking at the bathroom behind her. "I need to borrow Kasumi just for a second." Michiru grabbed the blonde by the wrist and pulled her closer to the bathroom door. "It's a girl thing…"

Pulling the blonde inside the bathroom, Michiru closed the door leaving the twins looking confounded. "A girl thing? What are we? Last time I checked my boobs were in the right place."

Hail smiled at Rain, she was thinking the exact same thing. "I don't know Rain, must be a girly girl thing."

Kasumi stepped into the bathroom and as Michiru closed the door she found herself facing Haruka. She pressed her red lips together angrily, so Michiru was not sick at all, she was playing dirty and had sneaked into the bathroom to do god knows what with Haruka when she knew Kasumi and her were on a date. So much for fair play. "What the…."

"Shhhhh" Michiru looked at Kasumi and Haruka looked at both girls wondering how bringing Kasumi into the bathroom was going to make this situation any better, the small bathroom getting too crowded.

Giving Michiru a stern look Kasumi placed a hand on her hip. "Care to brief me regarding your little rendezvous?"

"Ok Kas, listen, I need you to get past your anger right now and for all those times I have bailed you out I need you to help me out here."

"What can I do to help you here? Are you fancying a threesome?" Kasumi whispered but her voice had a definite tone of anger. "I was on a date, you sneaked my date into the bathroom, and now you want help."

"Kasumi…it is not Michiru's fault." Kasumi turned around to look at Haruka who right now was not her favorite person, she brushed her eyes over the tomboy and then turned back to talk to Michiru, she refused to tell on anger something that will pull Haruka even farther away from her.

"If these blows up Kas, neither you nor me will see Haruka again, is that what you want?" Michiru whispered really low, she wasn't sure she wanted Haruka to hear this conversation not that there was much room for privacy around though. "Please, you're my best friend."

Kasumi sighed, Michiru was playing the best friend card and she just could not refuse, she will deal with both of them later. Anyway Michiru was right, if she screw the couple letting them get caught in the bathroom Haruka will be history before Monday and she would not see her again, this was not the time or the moment to unleash her fury.

"I am doing this because you are pretty much blackmailing me here, but you did nothing fair here tonight. Both of you." Michiru nodded, she would have preferred Kasumi not find this way that Haruka and her had seen each other tonight but she was her friend and past her jealousy she had to help her out of this mess. "You hide." She pointed to Haruka and then fixing her long hair and her cleavage a little bit Kasumi tried to bring out one of her winning smiles before she went out the door.

The blonde stepped out of the door looking calmed and smiling, she played with her hair a bit giving Rain a charming smile, closing the door quickly behind her. "She's alright; she had a small wardrobe malfunction, that's all. So… my friend seems to be gone…" Kasumi tried looking disappointed and letting out a small sigh. "If it's not too much to ask do you think we can get a ride back to the dorms from you girls? Michiru and I are pretty much done for the night."

Rain nodded, too focused on the flirting face of Kasumi, Hail not too convinced but she nodded as well. "Are you sure she's alright?"

Kasumi smiled at Hail, she leaned towards her in an intimate gesture almost whispering to her ear. "You want the details don't you?" Deliberately she placed a hand on the black lapel of Hail's jacket, she knew Rain was looking at her and she lowered her eyelashes and fixed her seductive gaze on her while whispering to Hail. "Let's just say that's why I never wear underwear with rhinestones, any moment you're there looking pretty and then snap! Rhinestones on the floor and no more panties…"

Hail blinked a few times when the blonde's words formed an instant mental image on her head, she tried not to blush while facing the steel stare of Kasumi's eyes, the blonde smiling continue talking to the cellist. "She's a bit embarrassed; you don't want to make it any more uncomfortable for her do you?" Hail shook her head still perplex, Rain looking at them both wondering what was all the whispering about. Stepping away from Hail, Kasumi still looking at Rain with inviting eyes spoke louder. "How about you and Rain go find Michiru's violin, your cello and we will meet you at the door?"

"Sounds good." Kasumi smiled again and Hail turned around pulling Rain who seemed full of questions.

"But Michiru…Hail."

"Shut up Rain, she's ok."

"But, what did she told you?"

"I said shut up Rain…"

Laughing softly Kasumi turned to the door, she knocked again. "They are gone. Hurry before I change my mind."

Michiru came out of the bathroom, Haruka right behind her. "What did you told them?"

Kasumi shrugged. "That you were fine, let's go, they will be waiting for us at the door." She held Michiru's arm and pulled her away from Haruka.

"Kasumi, thanks." Haruka looked at the blonde, and Kasumi's eyes seemed for a second full of sorrow but they were quickly replaced by her calmed expression.

"Don't thank me, now you owe me another date." Michiru preferred not to say anything right now, she will have a talk with Kasumi about this for sure, she waved goodbye to Haruka as the blonde dragged her out.

Once at the door they met with Hail and Rain, the first one offered Michiru her trench coat. "No, its ok Hail, it is not that cold."

"I know…but it is kind of windy."

Michiru noticed a sudden blush on Hail's cheeks as she said this and Michiru looked at the coat not sure what was that was making Hail unable to lift her eyes and meet hers. Behind her she heard Kasumi snort as Rain and her walked past them. "I am ok, really." Hail nodded and just offered her arm to Michiru. "Hmmm Hail why are you blushed?"

"Me? Oh no, it's just hot out here that's all."

"Hot? You just said it was windy."

"Uh...Did I? I'm not sure…I…hmmm" They reached the car and Michiru confounded sat on the back seat next to Kasumi who seemed enjoying a private joke.

"What did you tell her?" She whispered to her friend while Hail and Rain placed the instruments on the trunk.

The red lips curved into a malicious smile. "That you lost your panties."

"What?"

Kasumi burst into laughter. "I bet she thought a gush of wind will show more of you than what her faint heart can take tonight."

Michiru blushed from head to toe, looking at Kasumi who kept laughing. "How could you do that?"

"You are lucky I didn't come out with something worse, I am very mad at you."

"Yes, I know that, but… oh my god, what she must think right now..."

The twins came into the car, Hail turn to look at the friends, Michiru still slightly blushed gained her full blush when she found the green eyes inadvertently looking at her legs. "Everything alright back there?"

"Oh yes Hail, we're all good, aren't we Michi?" Kasumi smiled at Hail and Michiru could not even think of what to say, she just looked out the window and thanked it was a short ride back to the dorms.

-0-

Haruka sat down next to Kuyako, Akira looked at her questioningly. "Hmm where's the drinks and where's Kasumi?"

"Don't have them and don't even want to start telling you about it, I think I am calling it a night."

Akira raised her eyebrows but just nodded in response. The blonde picked up her jacket and left a moment after. Kuyako looked at Akira and yawned softly. "So where are we going then hum? Dancing maybe?"

"You know Hun; I think I will just take you home."

"Oh?" The brunette smiled, leaning against Akira gently. "Feeling frisky already?"

"Well, not exactly …."

-0-

Rain waited for Hail to get her cello out of the car trunk, the twins then started walking towards their dorm room. "What do you think of Kasumi now that you've seen her?"

"Is there anything to think about her? She's pretty, in a Malibu Barbie kind of way."

Rain stopped, looking at Hail. "Really? I think she's gorgeous."

"Maybe for a painting, for a sculpture even, but she looks like she could freeze hell with a stare. She tries too hard to call attention to herself. If you see her against Michiru it might be easy at first glance to think she is more beautiful, but on a second look Michiru has the upper hand."

"Hum, yeah…I didn't meant to compare them though, it's like apples and oranges anyway. I just can't seem to get over how pretty Kasumi is, that's all."

"Good, leaves Michiru all for myself."

"I didn't say that." Hail placed her cello down, looking at her sister with renew interest.

"Are you serious? I thought you liked flashy beauty."

"I like beauty and Michiru has nothing but beauty. But it is not like we have a chance with her, she has the distinct marks of someone who is in Love. Have you found out who is this person she is waiting for yet?"

Hail shook her head. "No idea could be anyone, maybe even Kasumi. Didn't you said when you met them they were all over each other?"

"Dancing, not really all over each other. I doubt Kasumi and Michiru are an issue, especially because I think I know something about Kasumi that might be a secret."

The green eyes of Rain's twin flashed with interest. "Oh do tell, what?"

"I saw who did she come in with tonight and it might mean nothing but I don't think Kasumi will dress the way she did for a friendly date."

"Who? Tell me already."

"Haruka Tenoh."

Hail touched her chin trying to remember where she had heard the name. "Who's that again?"

Rain rolled her eyes. "Dummy, the new High School teacher, Michiru's solo teacher, the pianist."

"Oh! No way… although, well she does look like, you know, like part of the club."

Rain laughed hard. "We have a club now? But yeah, I saw the way Kasumi looked at her, and like I said they came in together."

"Hmmm, interesting. Maybe that is why Kasumi and Michiru are not an issue, because Kasumi and Haruka are together."

"Nah Hail, I'm telling you Michiru and Kasumi are not an issue."

"We'll find eventually, I want, no. I need to know who is it that Michiru loves. I just need to."

Rain smiled, she knew Hail could get obsessed real good real quick. "Be careful, you might not like what you find. She might just be the opposite of you." Shrugging Hail picked up her cello and walked to their bedroom door. "Don't be upset I'm just saying…"

"Yeah, I know. Whatever the case I will not lower myself to sabotage this person, if I get Michiru will be on my own merits. But until she is actually taken all I am doing here is fair play."

"Well that's true. Speaking of fairness, if you were a teacher will you date a student?"

Hail touched her chin thinking. "Well, depends… if it was Michiru…hell yeah!" Rain laughed, still thinking about Kasumi and Haruka, she wondered if there was anything there, her curiosity was just too grand, she will have to find out.

-0-

"How could you Michiru, like really? I am so mad at you right now. Sneaking into a public bathroom to get busy with my date…"

Michiru looked at Kasumi, her violinist hands together tightly pressed against each other on her lap. "It did not happen like that. I was there and she needed to talk to me."

"About what?

Michiru looked down to her hands. "It doesn't really matter."

"The hell it does, I thought we had a deal, you are playing tricks. I know you're doing whatever you can to get her, but one thing is flirting with her on your own time and another is butting into my date and stealing her. It is not my fault you guys haven't gone out on a date. Are you so jealous?"

"I am not. It just happened, besides she wasn't even seeing you anymore after tonight." Michiru heard her own words and realized she had made a huge mistake; the gray eyes became stormy as they looked at her.

Looking irate Kasumi stood tall and menacing. "You put her up to that! I knew it."

Michiru got up from her bed trying to find words not to hurt Kasumi with. "I've never recriminate you when you have won the girl before."

Kasumi turned around hugging herself looking outside the window to the starless night. "Are you two formally together then?"

Rubbing her tense neck with pensive expression Michiru left the question floating between them for a moment. "No. But I am sure we will."

The blonde nodded still giving her back at her. "Ok then." Closing her eyes for a moment Kasumi tried finding a quiet spot on her mind, she was so mad right now she could barely contain herself. But going ballistic and starting a fight with Michiru was only going to give her a sour victory. Michiru hadn't honored their pact and now she was being left out, Kasumi was not sure how to react to this.

Haruka and Michiru were together right now, sharing passion, even lust. But they were not formally together which made Kasumi realize her attempts even now would be perfectly legal under their agreement. She had to smarten up and stop playing low key, Michiru had the upper hand and that was unacceptable.

No more fair play, no more waiting and definitely no more talking, Kasumi Tani was done talking, it was actions that were going to take her somewhere with the tomboy.

"I don't want to fight with you all the time…"

"Neither do I Michiru."

The violinist came forward; she placed a hand on her shoulder. "Can't you be happy for me? Because I won, for a change?"

Kasumi nodded turning around, her eyes unreadable again. "Of course I can, I want you to be happy, but I want to be happy too."

Smiling Michiru looked at her friend. "You will find your Prince soon, you will see…"

Prince. The word just like a lingering musical note vibrated on Kasumi's head. Michiru's Prince… how could she forget so soon about her? There was the Prince, and Rain and Hail…someone, someone had to be able to sweep Michiru off her feet and away from Haruka. "You're right Michiru…but don't blame me for keep trying just like I won't blame you anymore."

"Deal."

-0-

"Everything is ready Miss Star; the car is waiting for you downstairs." Taking her eyes from the breathtaking view of the skyscrapers of New York, the young woman sitting next to the window nodded softly at the man who after bowing lightly left the room.

The woman stood up from the leather chair and fixed the collar of her denim shirt, her faint reflection on the ceiling to floor window of her apartment appearing tall and slender. She was going to miss New York for sure but Japan was an alluring destiny that waited for her. Just as she had left her home town years ago to learn to live in the concrete jungle beneath her she will learn to find the beauty in the oriental pearl.

First things first, she had a meeting with the man behind her new adventure. She was to meet Kaimu Kaioh, headmaster of The Music and Arts Institute of Tokyo in her last opening in New York. Walking to the mirror next to the door she made sure to dust all the marble specks off her face, even the tip of the long thick eyelashes framing the dark blue eyes had a bit of dust on them. She had promised herself not to work on her last days here but in a sudden burst of inspiration she had felt compelled to transform the block of marble sitting in her studio floor into an almost alive looking Arabian black mare, the statue so detailed it seemed like the animal emerged from the floor ready to sprint across the apartment floor.

The artist smiled at the sight of her own creation, it didn't matter where she went, or how many oceans apart she could be from her hometown, every time she closed her eyes she could see her home, it lived within her and it was embedded in her art. Before leaving the belle grabbed her favorite hat and tilted it over her head smiling at herself on the mirror, the wild world out there waiting for her and she was ready for it.

-0-

"Hey there pretty lady." Michiru looked up smiling, her hair swayed softly by the spring breeze. "Did you wait long for me?"

"I just got here." Michiru held Haruka's hand and got off the bench she was sitting on at the small hidden park they had chose as their meeting spot. Once Michiru was standing next to her Haruka brought her into a soft embrace and kissed her lips lightly.

"I waited the whole night to do that. How was it last night hum?"

The beauty smiled at the blonde kissing her chin softly. "It went ok I guess, but don't want to talk about Kasumi. This is my date; all I want is to talk about you and me."

Nodding Haruka offered the girl her arm and the couple started walking towards the blonde's car. "I have a surprise for your date today."

"You do?" Michiru seemed curious. "You're not going to try and sneak me into a shady motel are you?"

Laughing softly Haruka opened the passenger seat door for her. "Well not this early in the day, maybe later…"

Slightly blushed Michiru looked at the blonde. "You are joking aren't you?"

Sitting at the wheel of the yellow convertible Haruka smiled at her. "Am I? We'll I don't know, you will have to wait and see…"

"Haruka!" The blonde laughed and started the car. "Oh come on tell me, I hate surprises."

"Can't do, it has to stay a secret otherwise it is not romantic."

Romantic. That sounded good already. "Fine." Michiru smiled as they took the highway exit under the bright sun of the spring. "Say Haruka how many cars you have? I've already counted three…"

The blonde laughed and sped down the highway. "That is a secret too."

"Oh now you're just making stuff up."

"Well like I said, you will have to wait and see, but I promise you it's going to be romantic and fun."

Michiru smiled and turned the radio on, it really didn't matter where they go, today it was just going to be about them.

(A/N If anyone wonders about that rhinestone underwear thing…it happens…it happens …or so I've heard…*rofl *)