Disclaimer: The usual
A/N: Yes sorry sorry, I've became one of those terrible authors that update once a week *bows deeply* I blame love, so many good books and my stupid work that keeps me so busy! Well but here is chapter 19!
Chapter 19: An Instant
"Hi." Michiru's voice echoed in the quiet studio. Rain lifted her eyes from the empty sketch pad sitting in front of her, the artist still wearing the clothes from the night before slightly wrinkled, her red hair lose over her shoulders.
"Hey." Hesitant the aqua beauty stayed at the door frame, the long dreamy colored hair tied up at the base of her neck, wearing a pair of jeans and a sweater that belonged to Rain. "How are you?"
"I have a horrible hangover…"
"Yeah, me too."
"Sorry, I borrowed some of your clothes…"
"It's ok." Michiru looked uncomfortable, she knew what she wanted to tell Rain but she wasn't sure how. "Do you want something for breakfast?"
"Mmm no. Rain…can we talk?"
The redhead nodded, Michiru stepped in the studio slowly. "About last night Michiru, I am sorry. Like so sorry."
"Rain…wait, why are you sorry? It was all my fault, I am sorry. I was angry and then I got drunk and acted stupid, I…"
Rain held Michiru's hands. "I was there too, I am not sure what happened but I don't really regret it, you were sad and so was I. We had an instant, a stolen instant just for you and me. I know you love Haruka, and me…well what I am trying to say it's that it's ok Michiru, I am not upset and I hope you're not mad at me."
Michiru smiled, pressing her soft fingers against Rain's hands. "Of course I am not mad at you. You're a good friend Rain, I hope we can be friends for a long time; your heart is so pure and so full with love. Thank you for listening to my problems last night, for comforting me and being you…"
"Anytime."
"I just wish you hadn't heard about Haruka and Kasumi from me though… I am sorry."
Rain smiled, her heart was achy but she had spent the night thinking about Kasumi and got to the conclusion that the beautiful blonde was not the girl for her. She had always believed that love was something that just happened, that flowed without interruptions even when things seem hard and impossible, love could conquer all. She could not force Kasumi to love her; even if she could she wouldn't do it. Without freedom, there was no love. "I'll be fine. Are we fine? Like you and me?"
Nodding Michiru let go of Rain's hands and brought the redhead into a tight hug. Her heart aching too, she felt so sad about Haruka and she saw her own heartache reflected on Rain's emerald eyes. "If everything fails Rain, at least you and I will still be friends."
Hugging the violinist Rain smiled faintly. "I will like that very much Michi." Rain closed her eyes and enjoyed the soft scent of Michiru's hair, perhaps there will be someone else in her path soon, someone not taken or in love with someone else, someone perfect just for her.
Clearing her throat, Hail caught Rain and Michiru's attention, her somber appearance made Rain let go of Michiru's embrace. "Morning."
"Morning Hail." Michiru turned to smile at Hail who unlike her usual self didn't seem too poised, her usually perfectly manicured hair half tied and wet, dressed in jeans and a sweater, her green eyes darker than usual. The cellist smiled at Michiru, just a small smile.
"I think we should leave for Tokyo soon. Michiru, are you riding back with us?"
"Sure. I just need to make a phone call…"
"I'll show you to the phone." Hail guided Michiru out of the studio, taking a last glance at her sister who remained silent the whole time. The two girls walked down the polished wooden hall and Hail stopped Michiru with a soft gesture right outside an ornate paper panel door. "Did she hurt you? Haruka. Did she?"
Michiru shook her head. "No Hail, it was…it's complicated. But no, she didn't hurt me."
"Are you breaking up with her?"
The violinist looked at Hail, the cellist spoke with a soft voice but she didn't look aloof or confident, the Hail she was facing this morning was that girl she had met in the dark right before the performance at the College Café, a real person with deep feelings, the real Hail, what could she say not to hurt her? Not to give her any false hope? "I think the problem is that there is nothing to break up Hail. But that doesn't mean I'll just get rid of my feelings for her. I love her, even if she doesn't love me back, even if I have to leave her and move on with my life I still love her and there is no room in my heart for anyone else right now. You understand, right? What it means to love someone, even if they can't give you anything in return… "
Lowering her verdant eyes for a moment, Hail gave Michiru a small smile, right after the twin raised her eyes again, the turmoil gone from the sparkling eyes, the calmed expression back on the beautiful face. "There's a phone in that room, take as much time as you want, can I offer you something to eat?"
"No Hail…thanks."
Smiling again with her usual charming smile Hail opened the panel door for Michiru and excused herself. Michiru sighed, she had messed with the twins the night before, Rain seemed fine but Hail was obviously not as cool as she thought she was. She had a lot of damage control to do.
-0-
"Michiru just called me." Akira sat across Haruka at the kitchen table; the blonde looked like she hadn't slept all night. "She's going back to Tokyo with the twins."
Haruka looked at Akira with a dark expression, she put down her coffee mug and messed her blonde hair. "I shouldn't have let her go with them, we should have talked."
"Talking to a drunk pissed off girl was not going to take you anywhere. You will talk to her tomorrow or even later today, it's not like she's moving away or anything, she just thinks it'll be less awkward not to cram herself in the car with you and Kasumi, I actually agree with her."
"Last night when we got there she was in her arms and God, I almost lost it."
"Wow, you think Hail put the moves on her already?"
Haruka shook her head and Akira looked confused. "Not Hail, Rain."
Akira opened her eyes surprised. "What? Are you sure you're not confusing them?"
"Oh no, trust me. Michiru was in Rain's arms and they were both dead drunk."
Akira smiled after the comment, relaxing noticeable. "Oh come on, girls hug themselves when they're drunk all the time! Besides Rain is lovesick for Kasumi anyways, you can tell. Kasumi surely has that girl head over heels, I would worry about it if it had been Hail, but Rain is not like that."
"That's what I want to think but I was not the only one that seemed not so cool about it, Hail and Kasumi looked like they knew something I didn't."
"Kasumi needs to have that pretty head of hers checked up, wasn't the whole mess concerning her trying to seduce you? And now you're telling me she looked upset over Rain and Michiru? Makes you wonder if she likes Rain or maybe she just plainly likes Michiru…"
Haruka raised an eyebrow. "I don't think that's the case."
Shrugging the dark haired woman continued. "You know Haruka, with these girls I wouldn't assume a thing, next thing you know one of them decided to go straight or something."
"Wouldn't that be funny? But seriously, do you honestly think Michiru and Rain wouldn't…"
"Wouldn't what?"
"Have drunken sloppy sex…"
Laughing Akira took a sip of her juice and shook her head. "Come on, Michiru is not like that. Maybe they made out or something and passed out shortly after." The look and Haruka's expression almost made Akira burst into laughter. "Cheer up, I am sure nothing happened. But I have to say Michiru and Rain would do a nice couple so you better get your score back up with Miss Kaioh before either of the twins sweeps her off her feet."
"I just hope she wants to talk to me."
"Well if everything fails get her drunk, she might hug you."
Haruka gave her friend a dirty look. "You suck man…big time."
"Oh come on…it was a joke!"
-0-
The ride back to Tokyo with Hail and Rain hadn't been the greatest idea; after meeting the twins parents, very nice people who were amazingly hospitable and wouldn't let her go until she agreed to eat so much food she was sure she wouldn't need any food for a few days, they had finally left for Tokyo in a silent and gloomy mood.
Both the twins were super nice to her, asking her constantly if she needed anything, opening the car door for her and things of the sort, but the sisters were not talking to each other, Hail was driving the whole time in silence and Rain sighed softly now and then trying to make polite conversation with Michiru that lasted just a few seconds every time.
Michiru almost thanked the ride was over when she stepped out of the car, but then she remembered she had to go upstairs and meet Kasumi. She saw the twin's car leave and sighed, the soft rain almost like a fine mist falling over her hair and shoulders. Michiru stared for a few minutes at the window of their room wondering if she was ready to come upstairs and face reality again.
She finally stepped into the building when the soft mist turned into a shower, she knocked on the door softly, Michiru had no keys on her. Kasumi opened the door after a moment, her face slightly pale. The friends looked at each other for a second and then Kasumi stepped aside to let her in.
Michiru walked in the room in silence and saw her bags neatly placed on her bed, she was giving her back to the blonde not knowing what to say.
Biting her lower lip and playing nervously with the hem of her shirt Kasumi broke the silence of the room. "Michiru I am sorry. It was my entire fault, all of it."
The violinist kept giving her back to the blonde, a knot in her throat. "Where's my violin?"
"Michiru look at me will you?"
Lowering her shoulders, Michiru turned around to face Kasumi, the blonde looking at her with her ashen eyes full of sorrow. "Ok Kasumi, let's hear it. You are sorry about what?"
"I am sorry about, well everything, It was my fault Michiru, Haruka had nothing to do with it."
"Well I find that hard to believe, she was kissing you."
"Michiru come on, you know how I am, I tricked her … I overheard a conversation between Haruka and Akira and, I thought Haruka was in love with me Michiru, but I was wrong, she's in love with you and I have been a complete fool."
Michiru looked away from the moonstone eyes for a moment, lost in her thoughts. "It doesn't matter does it? If you're sorry right now, it doesn't matter. I told you how insecure I was, I shared my feelings with you, and yes ok. In a technicality you can claim we had an agreement, that Haruka and I are not girlfriends and that you made me no wrong, but in reality do you believe that? I love her, and you've seen me fall in love with her, do you love her Kasumi? Or did you just want her?"
"I'm sorry Michiru; I…don't have an excuse. I was holding on to an illusion, I am a sour loser and I didn't want to let go. But nothing happened, really. I asked her for a kiss and she must have felt sorry for me, that was it."
"Well, she should have said no."
"I am sorry Michi; you girls can still fix things."
"Fix what?" Michiru shrugged, her blue eyes watery, she refused to cry, not anymore. "We're exactly where we were yesterday with the exception that now I know exactly why she hasn't asked me to be her girlfriend, and I was stupid enough to sleep with her."
Kasumi looking surprised brought her fingers to her mouth. "You slept with her? Michiru, why didn't you tell me? Oh my God, I would have never, never ever…I didn't know…I'm so sorry Michiru forgive me please, nothing happened, I swear."
"How was I supposed to tell you if we were having this stupid competition? If we forgot we were friends first and we could not even talk? But like I said, it doesn't matter she kissed you and nothing stops her from kissing every other girl in the world."
"Michiru come on, you don't really believe that, do you? She loves you I'm sure. And it was all me, I asked her for that kiss, how was she going to refuse a crying girl?"
"You could have asked her for the moon Kasumi, she shouldn't have given you what was supposed to be mine."
"Don't be like that, come on. Are you going to talk to her?"
"I don't know, maybe. Not that it matters."
"Can you forgive me?"
Michiru fixed her eyes back on Kasumi, they had been friends for so long, before Haruka there wasn't anything Michiru would have hid from her. "I guess so. But it's going to take time, I feel much betrayed Kasumi, you should have known I loved her."
The blonde nodded quietly. "I'm really sorry, I guess I wanted to be in love too, I wanted to feel desired and loved, I was jealous of your luck, I am a crummy friend and there is nothing I can do to change the past but if you can forgive me it will mean so much to me not to lose your friendship."
"I can't believe she kissed you."
Kasumi stepped closer, she wanted to comfort Michiru but she didn't even know where to start. "It was nothing Michiru, some kisses mean nothing, some kisses are just an instant of stupidity, her kiss was a pity one, Haruka Tenoh has the hero suit welded to her soul, I looked like I needed to be rescued and she felt sorry for me, she didn't held my hands and told me she loved me, there was no love confessions, it was just a kiss. Have you never just given a kiss? One that means many things but you know it can't last?"
Michiru sighed loudly as if she had been holding her breath for a long time, the only thing she could think of right now was of Rain. Of the brief kiss they shared, she hadn't felt the sting of profound passionate love when she kissed her, but she did felt something, empathy, tenderness, loneliness. They had shared a moment of heartache together and then they had kissed. A kiss that meant many things but couldn't last, just as Kasumi had said… "What if you're just the first Kasumi? What if there are more instants? A lifetime of sharing her with others? Can I live with it? Am I supposed to?"
Michiru's voice broke, a warm tear rolling down her perfect face. "I love her so much, I can barely think of anything else, she's not just my first and last thought of the day, she is my whole day. And now? Now I have to wonder if there is ever going to be a future for us, one where there is just me and her."
Kasumi brought Michiru into a hug; she caressed Michiru's hair as the girl cried softly in her shoulder. "I'm sorry, I am so sorry Michi. But if I am sure of something it´s that she loves you. Just talk to her, give her one chance to prove herself worthy, stop wondering if she can give you what you want and ask for it. If you want a girlfriend then just ask her to be your girlfriend, why are we so old fashioned anyways? She's a girl and so are you, just take the first step."
"I can't." Michiru sobbed harder, she clung to Kasumi's arms. "What if she says no? I think…I think I'll rather have a part of her with me than nothing at all."
"Oh Michi." Kasumi guided her friend to the edge of her bed and kept hugging her for a while until she stopped crying. "Don't think like that. I am sure she loves you too, so sure."
Wiping the tears off her face Michiru looked down to her hands. " I don't know what to do."
"Just don't do anything stupid Michi, trust me I am the expert at being stupid and it won't take you anywhere. Getting drunk again could just end badly; you can hurt others along with yourself"
"I know."Michiru brushed the hair out of her face and standing up she started looking through her bags again.
Kasumi wanted to ask so badly if there had been anything between her and Rain the night before, but she knew she was standing on thin ice with Michiru and she could not press her luck, in her imagined scenarios, which had been many over the night and the morning, Michiru had actually stopped talking to her and called her all these horrible names. At least the real Michiru was more forgiving.
But her heart gave her no rest, she had thought all this time what she felt for Haruka was love and what she felt for Rain was tenderness but Haruka rejecting her bluntly hadn't been as devastating as seeing Michiru in Rain's arms. She had mistaken love for envy and desire and she had dismissed her tender feelings for Rain and they had grown under her feet with the distinct marks of love.
What if Michiru and Rain had a thing? Even worse, what if Rain was just over her and moving to better things? Had she lost her chance? But Kasumi was still confused, she refused to make the same mistake twice, before running off to confess her love to Rain she wanted to make sure what she felt was actually love. That she wasn't just being lonely and looking for a rebound embrace. Rain was not the kind of girl she could bear to hurt and right now Kasumi rather kept all her doubts to herself even if it meant to lose the race, for one time she didn't care about speeding up and winning the prize, she just wanted to reach the goal, she wanted to discover what Love really felt like.
"Are you going to call her?"
"No, not really."
"You should."
Michiru shrugged again, lifting her toiletry bag and heading to the bathroom. "I don't know. Kasumi…?"
"Yes?"
"She has my violin doesn't she?" The blonde nodded softly. "I guess I will have to call her then…soon."
-0-
Michiru walked first thing in the morning into her father's office. Akira sat behind her desk typing; she lifted her eyes to welcome her, a cautious smile on her face. "Morning Miss Kaioh."
Rolling her eyes Michiru dropped her school bag and sat on the small couch in the reception area. "Akira, just because I had a fight with Haruka doesn't mean you have to call me Miss Kaioh again, I thought we were on friendly terms."
The dark haired girl nodded. "Sorry, I was just making sure. How are you?"
"Well, I'm sleepy. How about you?"
Knowing Michiru's answer was a cue to not ask about Haruka, Akira smiled. "My shoulders are sunburned and this shirt is killing me."
Michiru smiled thankful that the woman had decided not to ask anymore, she still hadn't called Haruka and she wasn't planning to anytime soon. A Fact that was making her life quite difficult, considering she was going to be forced to skip classes that day in absence of her Strad. "Have you met Miss Star yet?"
Akira shook her head. "I was going to ask you the same thing."
"No I haven't. All I know is she's a sculptor from New York and my dad says her work is very life-like."
"I have a bio somewhere around here …let's see." Scattering some papers on her desk Akira lifted a document. Here we go. Texas L. Star, age 25, her line of work is Marble sculpting, oh nice… haven't met a marble sculptor before, no photo but it says here she is 5' 9", oh tall girl eh? Mmmm let's see, lots of education and awards. She seems like quite the talent."
"Texas? What kind of name is that?" Michiru smiled slightly walking to the desk and looking at the bio, scanning through all the awards the new talent had earned. Oh fun, she's from Texas and her name is Texas, I'll consider naming my future daughter or son Tokyo…no, not really."
Akira laughed softly. "Is she from Texas? Well I bet her parents really liked the place."
"I guess so. Just like the Tenki's ah? Naming kids after weather…maybe I should name a child of mine Lemon Pie, I love it."
Both girls laughed and Michiru placed the document down almost at the same time the door opened and the awaited Miss Texas Star walked through the door, there was no doubt it was her, Michiru thought to herself, the woman looked clipped out of a cowboy movie.
Texas Star looked at the women; she smiled warmly curving her beautiful lips, her dark blue eyes frames by thick long dark eyelashes, her dark brown hair falling on a side braid that brushed her chest. She was tall, slender and she looked completely out of place in Tokyo. She had a handsome Stetson hat over her head, a leather jacket over her well toned shoulders and blue jeans ending in riding boots. "Good Morning."
Michiru closed her mouth that half opened for a second as she wondered if the woman could look any more like a Western American poster girl. "Morning. Miss Star I presume?"
The girl nodded, tilting her hat slightly and Michiru smiled. "Miss Kaioh, isn't it?" Nodding Michiru walked to the newcomer and lent her a hand; Texas smiling shook her hand firmly. You look a lot like your father Miss Kaioh."
"Is that so? Well, welcome to Tokyo Miss Star."
"Just call me Tex."
Still smiling Michiru refrained from asking any questions about the peculiar name and just nodded again. "Michiru is fine as well; Miss Kaioh is a bit too formal. Let me introduce you to Miss Kitsune. Miss…I mean Tex, this is Akira Kitsune."
Tex posed her indigo eyes on Akira, who hadn't been able to stop looking at her from the second she stepped in the room and she smiled, the sculptor walked towards her with confident steps and touched the tip of her Stetson again. "My, don't you look like a tall glass of lemonade on a hot summer day."
Michiru looked at Texas surprised, the sculptor´s tone was defiantly low and seductive and the smile that she gave Akira could have easily lit a bonfire, in response her father's assistant stayed still frozen on the ground where she was standing looking nervous and slightly blushed. "Um…ah… are you thirsty?"
Widening her smile and leaning slightly towards Akira's desk, Tex spoke with her low voice again. "Very." Akira opened her hazelnut eyes fully surprised, blushing so hard she thought she was going to melt and Michiru raised her eyebrows wondering if she had suddenly became invisible or if Texas simply didn't mind flirting with her in the room. "A coffee will be nice."
Akira nodded softly but her feet were still in the same spot, Michiru tried to hide her smile as she coughed softly to catch the couple's attention. "Akira shouldn't you go tell my father Miss Star is here?" Nodding again Akira tried to take her eyes of Texas Star, the sculptor still smiling at her until after a few seconds the Raven haired girl finally blinked a few times and nodding again she was able to walk away from her desk disappearing behind the oak double doors.
Taking her dark blue eyes off the door as soon as the silhouette of Akira disappeared Texas turned her attention back to Michiru, her voice casual again."So, Michiru, your father says you can show me around campus. I hope it's not an imposition."
"Not at all Miss Star."
"Tex, remember? Just Tex."
-0-
Michiru and Texas walked later that day along the hallways of the Music wing of the high school section, the tall girl paying close attention to everything Michiru had to say regarding the history of the school and the location of libraries and cafeterias. "Michiru…"
"Yes?"
"Is Miss Kitsune single?"
Michiru smiled tilting her head slightly looking at the brunette. "You know Tex? I have no idea…"
"Oh, it looked to me like you were on friendly terms."
"We are, she's…I should know, you're right. I guess, I am not too good at noticing what happens around me. You seem to be very keen though, Akira and I are formal around my dad."
"I make my living out of observing things I guess."
"I've heard your sculptures are very life-like I guess it makes sense for you to be very attentive to details. Do you sculpt people?"
"Not usually, I like nature better; animals particularly."
"You must show me your work soon." The brunette nodded and they kept walking down the hallway. "I will ask her…and let you know."
Tex smiled, she considered herself a good judge of character and she liked the headmaster's daughter, she seemed like a sweet girl. She paid attention again to her friendly chat, noticing the hands of the girl flowing constantly as she talked, her long elegant fingers tracing patterns in the air. And she also noticed how the hands suddenly stopped at the sight of a tall blonde girl who walked towards them, when the tall stranger stopped next to them Michiru went completely silent and pressed her hands against her binder.
"Michiru…"
"Haruka." Michiru's voice was brittle and Texas looked from one girl to the other.
The blonde tomboy brushed her eyes on Texas for a moment not caring too much for her as she had waited all morning to see Michiru and the girl never showed up. "Um…Haruka, this is Texas Star, she's a new student."
The blonde tomboy nodded and shook the girl's hand, noticing her at detail this time, arching an eyebrow slightly at the western outfit. "Tex, this is Miss Haruka Tenoh."
"Nice to meet you, Miss Tenoh."
"Haruka, Haruka is fine."
"Haruka, are you a music major student?"
Standing slightly straighter Haruka shook her head. "No, I am a teacher. Soloist teacher."
Texas smiled. "I see, well it's nice to meet you. Miss Kaioh is being kind enough to show me around the campus grounds."
Haruka felt suddenly uneasy around Texas, she was being overly familiar with Michiru and she could get both of them in trouble "I see, um...Miss Kaioh… I have your violin."
"Yes, I… I know."
"I thought you would pick it up first thing this morning."
"I was busy…"
Haruka nodded gently. "Come pick it up anytime you want, please."
Michiru lowered her eyes. "I'll try."
"Miss Star, Miss Kaioh" Bowing again Haruka looked at the girls and then turned around and walked back into her classroom, the deep sea eyes fixed on her.
"She is very beautiful isn't she?"
Blushing softly Michiru looked at Tex. "Haruka?" The woman nodded. "I'm not sure she would like to be described as beautiful."
"Beauty comes in many shapes, she has a chiseled face, her eyes lit at the sight of…well she has very beautiful eyes. Of course it's hard to make comparison against eyes like yours. This school seems to be swarmed with beautiful women, how lucky for me." Michiru laughed softly, but in truth her heart was aching again, she wasn't sure about wanting to see Haruka but she couldn't avoided it much longer. She could ask someone to pick up her violin from Haruka's office but that was just going to win her some time it wasn't a permanent solution. "You should go."
"Excuse me?"
"To get your violin, you should go. I'll find my way back, something tells me you can't bear to be apart too much longer from…your violin."
Smiling the girl looked into the indigo eyes. "Your eyes are too keen Tex. Thanks, I'll see you later, and I will ask Akira…promise."
Touching the tip of her hat again, Tex gave the violinist a little smile. "You make sure you do that, have a great afternoon ma'am."
-0-
Michiru stared at the door of Haruka's classroom for a while, she fixed her hair and straightened her skirt, holding her breath she reached for the doorknob and walked into the classroom, Haruka sat by her piano, reading a handwritten music sheet. At the sound of the door opening she turned around, she wasn't expecting Michiru, her heart suddenly skipped a bit as the girl walked in with soft steps and approached the table where her violin lay.
"I'm here Haruka, I'm listening. What do you have to say for yourself?"
(A/N: Texas Star is so cute in my head lol Texans out there don't be offended I actually think she's a hot character :P )