Disclaimer: The usual
A/N: So life has been kicking me repeatedly on the butt lately, I am sadly an unemployed little author, anyone cares to donate to the let's save Aura fund? lol anyways at least I finished chapter 21 in much better spirits than the ones before. I hope you enjoy it! ^.^ I'll try to write another chapter sooner this time. And please review! Don't abandon me!
A Lesson on Love
By Auraluna7
Chapter 21: Under the weather
Michiru placed a blue binder in her bag and casually spoke to Kasumi who sat next to her. "So, I told my dad about Haruka… well no not really, I wanted to but, well it didn't happen. But I did tell him I like girls, so half the truth."
Kasumi surprised looked at Michiru, the friends sitting in the almost empty classroom after class. "Oh my, and what did he say?"
"Well actually he took it surprisingly well, like he was telling me how gender doesn't matter in love and such."
"Really?" The blonde gathered her books in her backpack as Michiru waited for her, both friends left the classroom and started walking down the busy hallway. "I would have guessed your father would be the kind of parent that would have gone ballistic at such piece of information."
"Well, it's not like I ever had boyfriends and besides this is an art school, like we cannot be any more gay friendly…"
Kasumi laughed and brushed her long hair behind her back. She was still on her toes with Michiru but it seemed that the beautiful violinist was sincere when she said she was trying to forgive her and go back to normal. "So if he was being understanding why didn't you tell him you´re dating Haruka?"
"Well, first because we're not." Kasumi gave Michiru and incredulous look.
"Yes you are, stop being overly dramatic."
"…anyways. Besides that, because he will surely freak out, like surely. Not even a question about it. Don't you remember that girl from the Art's program who eloped with that teacher last year? My dad almost had a stroke."
"That guy was a hundred years old and she was nineteen; that is totally different."
"Yeah different, how? Different in the sense I'm underage and his daughter? I think that kind of difference only makes it much worse."
"He' s going to find out though, like sooner or later Michiru, I think it'll be better if he hears it from you, especially right now that he is in an accepting and loving mood."
"Hmmm, maybe. But…no, I don't think I want to tell him just yet. First I need to figure out some things."
"Just ask Haruka to be your girlfriend already Michi." Michiru glanced at Kasumi; she chose not to comment on the blonde's words anymore. She was still not terribly happy with Kasumi, but she had to give the blonde some credit, Kasumi was been super nice and was certainly trying to make amends. "I'm just saying. It'll be so much easier if you just do it. Even if she says no, which she won't. But even if she does at least you will have certainty."
"Hmmm." Michiru wasn't really in the mood to talk about the subject anymore. She had promised Haruka to spend the evening together and aside of love making she was not sure how was she going to fill the hours without touching a sore spot and starting a new fight. "I kissed Rain."
Kasumi closed her eyes for a moment, the friends walking outside under the sunny sky. In the distance Michiru spotted the mentioned redhead along with Hail and Texas, sitting around a table looking at something on a laptop. Michiru stopped and faced Kasumi.
"I wanted you to hear it from me." Kasumi nodded quietly.
"Why?"
"Why did I want you hear it from me? Or why did I kiss her?"
"Why did you kiss her?"
Michiru shrugged. "It wasn't to get back at you, if that's even on your mind. It just happened, I was piss drunk and Rain was very understanding. We're just friends."
The blonde nodded looking away from Michiru to the table where the twins seemed to be having an awesome laugh with a strange brunette she couldn't recognize. "You just kissed? Or…" The sudden thought of Michiru's nightgown in Rain's bedroom lingered in Kasumi's head and she could feel her own eyes becoming watery.
"A kiss, just a kiss. Like fifteen seconds of drunken smooches. I'm sorry, I didn't even think it would affect you, but … I peaked on your notes today."
Kasumi blushed intently, tightening the grip on the strap of her backpack. "You read …"
"Is it a song? I think it can become a beautiful song."
Kasumi had spent the better half of their Metrics class scribbling on her notebook, one of the times she actually looked down to what she was doing she discovered what could easily be the lyrics for a love song. "Depressing Love song you mean."
Michiru smiled. "Those are the best sellers. You just need a sticky title, like Rainy days or Stormy soul."
Kasumi laughed softly. "What made you believe I wasn't talking about someone else?"
"Haruka you mean? Well, Kas, you're a terrible flirt and sometimes a crappy friend but I don't think you will go the distance to apologize to me and still be all poisoned with love for Haruka, and besides I doubt Haruka could be described as a sweet spring shower…or does she?"
Blushing softly Kasumi looked back at Michiru who smiled at her sweetly. "Nosy Nancy, those were private notes."
"Yes I know, I know…I also saw that cute R inside a heart you drew at the bottom of your page, how romantic of you Kasumi."
Kasumi laughed, she was embarrassed for sure but somehow it didn't mattered too much anymore. "She's not into me anyways; maybe I just like fancying girls that reject me."
"Nonsense, she's probably just traumatized at the thought of you and Haruka…well I don't need to elaborate I am pretty traumatized too."
"I'm sorry about that."
"Yes I know. It's ok. We all fuck up. You especially…"
Kasumi opened her mouth with a playful offended face. "How rude."
"I was just kidding." Michiru laughed softly, it felt so good to laugh, she hated to dwell on the sadness. "So what are you going to do? Do you intend to hunt poor Miss Rain Tenki down, corner her in a dark alley and have your way with her?"
The blonde shook her head. "Nothing, I'm doing nothing. No hunting down, no pushing, like she already turned me down once."
Looking intrigued Michiru tilted her head slightly, noticing the sudden sadness on the misty eyes. "She did? When?"
"Spring break, I had a moment there, and she turned me down very politely but very directly."
"Really? But she's so into you Kasumi like serious. Anyone can tell."
Shrugging Kasumi looked through her backpack. "She knew I had feelings for Haruka, and I did. But now that the fog has gone away I realize I really like Rain and that I messed up and maybe I missed my chance with her. Yet somehow I don't want to wear the seductress suit and try cornering her. That hasn't worked out too well lately for me."
"I could talk to her…" The blonde shook her head, soft curls falling over her face as she kept leaned on backpack rummaging through it. "What are you looking for?"
"This." Kasumi took out a thin folder and handed it to Michiru, the violinist opened it to find an amazingly detailed portrait of Kasumi, in it the blonde was lying on a padded bench under the rain, her gray eyes strangely shadowed appeared sad at first glance but full of a mysterious light, her long platinum hair damped by the rain falling in unruly locks, the clothes fitting to her body like a second skin, revealing every part of her anatomy.
"Rain did this...was it in the envelope you got for your birthday?"
Kasumi nodded. "She painted it the night before, I posed for her."
"Under the rain?"
"No, naked."
The very blue eyes opened surprised. "Naked, naked?" The blonde nodded again. "Oh wow…"
Kasumi had a long look at the portrait before putting it away. "I don't look like her portrait; the girl in there seems frail. A soaked, sad, little girl. I hate feeling like that."
Michiru shook her head. "Silly, you do not look like a sad, soaked little girl. She painted you under the Rain…Rain, get it? Look a little farther, be a bit more artistic, she painted you wet, your eyes shiny, frail and under her…"
Kasumi's face blushed intently. "No…no. It's a sad looking painting."
"It's sad because you feel sad; I think you look pretty aroused in the drawing if you ask me."
The blonde girl smiled slightly and bit her lower lip. "You really think so?"
"I think her subconscious spoke for her, and I think you still have a shot with Rain for now. You just have to be sure how you feel about her though, I will hate to see her suffer, or you for that matter."
"Yeah, I know. Let's go say hi." Smiling Michiru and Kasumi started walking towards the twins again. "Mmmm who's that sexy little cowgirl? Is she in the cosplay club?"
Michiru laughed softly. "Her name is Texas Star and she just joined the Arts program; and those are her actual clothes, like she's from Texas… don't tell me you instantly got the hots for her! Kasumi! Like we just talked about Rain."
Kasumi laughed. "I like pretty people, it's not a crime, I'm just window shopping. Texas ah? Very nice."
"Such a flirt. Back off, I think she likes Akira."
"Akira and Miss Texas from Texas…hmmm I wouldn't mind joining…" Michiru turned to look at Kasumi with a surprised expression and Kasumi laughed. "Oh Michi it's so easy to make you blush, I'm not looking for any adventures at the moment, apparently I'm under the weather."
"Under the weather…oh. Right, I like that, name your song that."
"Maybe I will…" The two girls finally approached the group, Hail was the first to see the two friends and she gifted them a welcoming smile, Tex smiled at Michiru; taking a long good look at Kasumi who instinctually tilted her head and gave her a half smile.
"Hi girls." Hail spoke, making Rain look up from Tex's laptop where she was admiring the sculpture collection of the Texan artist. "Tex well you know Michiru right? This is Kasumi Tani."
Texas walked around the table smiling charmingly and holding Kasumi's hand she planted a chivalrous kiss on it, the singer laughed enchanted at the gesture. Tex noticed however Rain's perfect eyebrow arching up for a moment at the sight of Kasumi's sexy smile. "Miss Tani, a pleasure."
"The pleasure is all mine." Michiru gently stepped on Kasumi's foot. Who seemed to forget all about her good intentions of not flirting and couldn't help her usual flirty spirit.
"So Tex, I see you've met the Tenki's aren't they nice?" Michiru broke the silence and Texas smiled giving the blonde a small nod. "Kasumi and I are in the Music Program, she's a singer. Texas is a sculptor Kasumi."
"Are you? How interesting, what kind of sculptures?"
Kasumi sat right across from Rain who closed the laptop and smiled faintly at her, Kasumi smiled back trying to sound normal, even when her heart started beating slightly faster when the Twin smiled at her.
"Marble sculptures. I have to say Kasumi; you don't mind if I call you Kasumi do you?"
"Not at all."
The brunette nodded again. Hail looking from one to the other and then back at Rain. "You have a very unique pair of eyes, they reminded me of this gorgeous block of marble I sculpted once, it was so smooth and perfect, it became one of my favorite pieces."
"No kidding." Michiru butted in again. "What was it? The sculpture?"
"A horse."
The violinist laughed softly. "That's not too nice Texas you just told my friend her eyes reminded you of a horse statue."
Texas smiled, she was trying to find out why was she being cut off from having a conversation with the blonde and she found both Michiru and Hail looking discretely back at Rain who was the only one at the table with a peaceful expression. "They reminded me of the marble which is something I love and a mare that was a faithful companion."
Kasumi knew the innocent flirtation between Texas and herself was making the atmosphere tense, she knew Texas' kind, being one of her own, she knew instantly as soon as the brunette had kissed her hand. "Do you like horses much?"
"I enjoy riding now and then, I love breaking mares…"
Kasumi laughed nervously, in a different circumstance she would have quickly found an excuse to show Texas around campus and talk all about breaking mares, but her eyes met Rain's and for a second the green eyes seemed to be looking at her intensely. Her flirty mood suddenly evaporating completely. "You know? I think Akira Kitsune loves horses, like loves them, she has a bunch of paintings in her apartment. Right Michiru? Do you know Akira Kitsune? Lovely girl. I myself prefer having both my feet on the ground."
Michiru smiled. "Does she? Oh I mean sure I remember the paintings, we should all get together for a movie or something, do you like movies Tex?"
The Texan nodded, she had seen enough glances and secret messages in the table to know it was time to stop flirting with the blonde. These girls seem to be having a beautiful mess going on between them; it seemed that Hail liked Michiru, but so did Rain or it seemed that way for a moment until she posed her eyes on the blonde singer who seemed to not be able to lift her moonstone gaze from Rain's. Yet it didn't seem like they were together and then there was the blonde tomboy teacher who no one had mentioned just yet but who Texas knew had a say in the mess.
"I do. So you are all friends with Miss Kitsune?"
"You can say that." Michiru smiled. Hail and Rain nodded.
"She's very nice. A bit serious at times." Hail spoke again, things had a hint of normality but so many things had happened lately it was hard to be her relaxed self.
"It's because she has to act like the grown up around us. Even with Haruka." Michiru sat next to Rain wanting to see Texas sculptures and the redheaded words had been casual, until she noticed Michiru's blue eyes looking at her with a warning on them, Rain realized that perhaps she shouldn't have mentioned Haruka.
"Haruka Tenoh? The teacher?"
The four friends looked at each other for a moment and Kasumi spoke first. "She's Akira's roommate, we all get along well with them because Haruka is about the same age as Hail and Rain isn't she?"
The twins nodded. "I see, she seems nice."
"She's ok." Hail's words were a bit cold and Michiru looked at her. Remembering with a heartache that things between her and Hail were still not entirely patched up. She focused her blue eyes back on the laptop screen to go through the series of amazing looking sculptures and pointed a few to Kasumi to divert the conversation into safer grounds.
Texas smiled amused. She liked these girls who all seemed so full of emotions. It looked like at anytime, one of them was going to break like a damn and spill the entire drama on the table. She certainly wanted to know what else was on stock, she had a curious nature. "So Michiru, did you have a chance to talk to Miss Kitsune?"
-0-
Michiru's soft long hair was spread like a fan all over the white pillow on Haruka's bed, her blue eyes looking up to the ceiling, her nude warm skin barely covered by a thin bamboo white bed sheet. Haruka lay next to the beauty on her side, her head resting on her palm, the teal eyes fixed on the soft milky skin of Michiru's neck. "A penny for your thoughts?"
The violinist turned her face around to look at Haruka with a small smile on her perfect lips. "A penny? How cheap."
The tomboy laughed gently and kissed the girl's lips, the sweet taste of Michiru sparkling her desire instantly once again, it seemed that even after just having her Haruka needed Michiru more and more. "The moon for your thoughts, my heart perhaps?"
Michiru lowered her eyelashes for a moment, then bringing them back up she smiled at Haruka. "Do you know if Akira has a girlfriend?"
Haruka smiled a bit puzzled by the question. "I don't know, I don't think so. She was seeing this girl Kuyako but I haven't seen her around for a long time. Why?"
"You don't think so? What a crummy friend, you should know for sure."
"Ok, I guess you're right, I should but she as a lot of girlfriends, like a lot. And again why? Do you fancy her?"
Laughing softly, Michiru shook her head. "She's not my type, not for me. I was asked about it and I realized I barely know her."
"Akira dates a lot, like she clubs a lot and brings home girls with her all the time."
"Oh." Michiru refrained from asking if Haruka brought home lots of girls too, and the memories of their first meeting suddenly turned against her. Has she been one of many girls Haruka was willing to bring home? Maybe in the bed she was lying in at the moment? Cringing softly Michiru closed her eyes and wished the tortuous train of thought had never reached her conscious mind.
"Are you ok?" There was genuine concern in Haruka's voice, again she had the distinct feeling that there was something wrong with Michiru, that even though she kept kissing her and letting her love her, Michiru wasn't happy.
"Yes, of course."
"You're lying Michiru, I don't like to be lied to."
Michiru looked away, still hurt by the thought of just being another girl in the Muse List. "I kissed Rain."
Haruka looked at Michiru surprised, the girl refusing to face her. "And?"
"And nothing, I kissed her that night, I thought you should know."
Haruka sighed, her teal eyes staring intensely at Michiru. "Are you breaking up with me?"
Turning her face back to Haruka deeply surprised Michiru looked deep into the teal eyes. "Break up?"
"Yes, break up. Do you Love Rain?"
Michiru shook her head, her ocean blue eyes troubled. "It was a stupid kiss, I was drunk and I was hurt. I don't love her, I love you."
"Ok then. I don't care."
"Why…why did you say break up Haruka?"
Haruka's head was a mess, she was fighting the anger towards herself, if she hadn't been so stupid to go and kiss Kasumi, Michiru would have never found herself in a position of vulnerability and would have not kissed Rain. But despite the enormous wave of jealousy she felt right now she was not mad at the violinist, she was worried. Haruka felt like she was losing Michiru like water running down her hands. "Because I don't want to lose you, I don't want you to break up with me, what else could I possibly mean?"
Michiru sat down in bed, her knuckles white and she pressed them against the bed sheet, covering the nudity that right now felt insulting. "We're not together."
Shaking her head Haruka thought Michiru had suddenly gone mad, she felt a sudden impulse to shake the small girl but she stayed where she was looking at her with incredulity. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"You, you haven't even asked me to be your girlfriend! We're not together…I…" Michiru burst into sobs.
"Look at me. Look at me right now Michiru Kaioh." Michiru looked up; her eyes filled with tears that started to roll down her eyes. "I have no idea what are you talking about. We have been dating for weeks, we're together, we go out, we hold hands, I make love to you and I told you I love you, what else is there missing here?"
"I thought you…" Again Michiru burst into tears, and Haruka lifted the girl's chin looking into her deep eyes. "You never asked, and then you kissed her, and I thought, I thought you wanted other girls, other muses, so many others."
Sighing with frustration Haruka kissed Michiru's lips. "How can you have such beautiful bright eyes and be so blind? Perhaps I didn't ask you with words but I thought my actions spoke for themselves. I guess I was wrong and I should have known you're a helpless romantic, Love. Will you forgive this fool for not asking you to be her girlfriend? And will you take me now?"
Blinking, still holding a few stray tears Michiru looked at Haruka. "Do you mean it? Or you're just being polite?"
Haruka tilted her head. "You're hurting my feelings Michi. Is that how you see me? As a womanizer that lies to beautiful girls like yourself?"
"No…"
"Well it doesn't seem like that. I suddenly feel like a complete perv abusing you."
Michiru shook her head and hugged the blonde. "I'm sorry Haruka, I'm so insecure, and I was so scared. I didn't want to lose you; I was willing to do anything. I love you."
"I love you too" The blonde tomboy hugged Michiru back, resting her forehead against Michiru's. "There is no one else but you." Meeting the teal eyes again, Michiru entwined her hands to Haruka's, her heart beating faster, burning away all the pain she had felt the last weeks.
"You're my only Muse Michiru." They kissed and again the world felt just right, the sweetness of Michiru's lips embracing Haruka, making her want more and more, the pianist's hands travelling along the soft exposed skin of Michiru's perfect body.
As both of them landed again in the soft welcoming bed Michiru looked up to find the teal eyes filled with love and she closed her eyes moaning softly under her breath as Haruka reached her wetness and made her shiver again over and over wishing there was nothing in this world but them and this perfect today. "I love you, always…"
-0-
Akira closed her eyes and leaned on her chair lazily. What a long, long boring day. She was still not even half way done through the mountain of paper work that accumulated during her Spring break holiday; at least she was about to head home.
"Miss Kitsune?"
Her boss' voice made her jump off her chair and she started apologizing instantly for being caught stretching like a house cat at work. Kaimu Kaioh smiled; he always liked how efficient and professional Akira Kitsune was at the workplace although sometimes he believed the girl was slightly afraid of him.
"Miss Kitsune I have something to ask you."
Still feeling a bit embarrassed Akira nodded. "Of course Dr. Kaioh, what is it?"
"Well it is a personal thing, off the record let's say."
The hazelnut eyes looked up to meet Dr. Kaioh's they never spoke of any personal matters before. "Ok…"
"I wanted to ask if you by any chance know who Michiru spent her Spring break holiday with, I mean besides yourself, Miss Tani and Haruka Tenoh was there anyone else?"
"Ah, not in the house Sir, no. Just us."
"Ok, anyone else besides that, friends of Michiru perhaps?"
"Well, Rain and Hail Tenki stopped a few times. Is there anything wrong Sir?"
"No of course not, I'm just slightly curious, do you know if Michiru is dating anyone?"
Akira looked at her boss, she had been awaiting a question like this for a while now, what was she supposed to say? "No."
Kaimu Kaioh looked at his assistant, the woman had never appeared to him so young, perhaps he had forgotten how you old she was because she was so efficient and could easily handle the entire paperwork for the school on her own. But she could not be much older than twenty five and she was obviously not going to tell him what he wanted to know, girl's sticking together, he thought to himself. "I see. Well, then I guess I'll have to ask Michiru again, have a good night Miss Kitsune."
"Good night sir." With relief Akira saw her boss disappearing behind the double doors, she sighed loudly, she had dodged the bullet, but she wasn't completely sure he believed her. She was probably going to be facing this problem again in the future soon.
She had to talk to Michiru and Haruka about this soon. Grabbing her suit jacket from the coat closet, Akira was sincerely happy this day was over; at least she had the comfort of a warm soft bed waiting for her at home. She walked out of the office and sighed again, it looked like it was going to rain again and she had no umbrella, hopefully the rain will hold until she reached her car.
"No matter where you go, sunsets are always beautiful, wouldn't you say?"
Akira smiled, somehow not surprised to find Texas leaning against a column waiting for her. "I have not seen many places, but I guess every sunset is beautiful."
The brunette smiled and walked towards Akira, offering kindly to carry the woman's bag. "I will love to show you many sunsets."
Handing the brunette her bag Akira smiled. "How about you show me dinner for today? I'm pretty tired so it's probably not going to be a terribly romantic dinner."
Texas smiled. "I like regular dinners too, I could kill for a good steak right now, I think I already had my fill of rice for this lifetime and I haven't been here a whole week."
Laughing Akira hugged the brunette's arm. "I'm a vegetarian."
"Well, steak houses usually have very good salads."
"True. Do you have a car?"
"No ma'am, I do have a hotel room though."
Akira blushed softly. "Well that's no good right now is it?"
"No?"
"Nope, I like cooking breakfast in my own house, do you like omelets?"
Showing each of her perfect teeth as she opened the car door for Akira to step in her car Texas leaned on the door frame. "Sure as long as you put some bacon in them."
"Well, we'll see…we'll see." Texas sat on the passenger door next to Akira still smiling. "So Steak house then?"
"Well you know, I could wait for breakfast." Akira laughed sincerely. "Well no, that's a lie, I'm starving but I was trying to sound very seductive."
"Good, it worked. But I'm starving too. And I do like bacon, but I'm still a vegetarian…"
"Oh well, then we'll get along just fine, just fine."
"I'm sure of that…" Akira started the car with a big smile on her face and as she rode into the sunset with Texas she felt Haruka and Michiru's problems were not as bad, they after all had each other.
(A/N : Well seems like things are starting to look up again for our favorite couple no? Let's wait and see lol Believe it or not this author never knows what's going to happen…until she does! Review if you want more!)