Disclaimer: The usual
A/N: Yes, sorry I've been gone forever. Why? Well, writer's block, bad health, work, personal relationships, basically life against me writing, but I did it! I don't know when the next chapter will be ready and for those of you who still want to read my story here's chapter 23 and sorry again for the lack of updates!
A Lesson on Love
By Auraluna7
Chapter 23: Fountain of Inspiration
Haruka fixed her teal eyes on the man approaching her, she stood from the piano bench to face him on even grounds. There was nothing particular about Kaimu's expression and Haruka couldn't find any disapproval in his eyes but she couldn't read anything else either which provide her little comfort.
"What is it about Michiru that you wish to discuss, sir?"
Had her voice sounded weak? Or was it only how she felt, her hands suddenly felt clammy, she was not going to lie to Michiru's dad, even if it cost her job, she loved Michiru and she was willing to go down with the ship to defend her love.
"It seems such a long time since you started working for the Institute doesn't it? Yet it has barely been a few months, you seem to have adapted perfectly to our school. Are things going well will you say?"
Haruka nodded, Dr. Kaioh always seemed to run around the bush when talking to her, or anyone really, his voice was low and deep, almost peaceful. "Very well, sir."
"Good; Michiru has changed grandly since you became part of our teacher's staff, she seems more receptive to suggestions, whatever you're doing it seems to be working. She's not causing any troubles is she?"
"No."
Kaimu nodded, he glanced at the scattered handwritten music sheets on Haruka's piano. "May I?" The blonde tomboy nodded again and the man had a brief look to her work, he smiled. "I would love to hear this song once you finish it, you seem to be very inspired Miss Tenoh."
"I found a fountain of inspiration, to call it somehow."
"Well, I'm glad, keep drinking from it. But let's go back to what originally brought me here; Michiru."
Haruka had relaxed for a second until the name of Michiru was dropped again in the conversation, then she felt her neck muscles tensing, she was not good at the waiting game, maybe she should just cut to the chase and tell Michiru's dad the truth about what was going on between her and his daughter. "About Michiru, Dr. Kaioh I…"
The Doctor made a gesture that stopped Haruka's words. "I know she's a handful to say the least but I appreciate very much all your hard work, I recently saw her playing and there has been an enormous change on her technique and she is still taking lessons with you, that had never happened before. I am wondering how is the duet coming along? The board meeting is next week."
Haruka smiled, so Kaimu Kaioh wasn't here to interrogate her regarding her affairs with Michiru or fire her or anything like that. He was here regarding the duet and Michiru's musical progress, yet she somehow felt compelled to bring the subject of her relationship out in the open one and for all. "We're ready for the duet, we've been practicing a lot." She tried to make the 'we' sound forceful and definitive but Kaimu seemed to not notice. Maybe she needed to be more direct.
"Perfect, that takes a burden of my shoulders, I felt like I compromised you to put the whole thing together and I was afraid things between you two wouldn't go well."
"Things with Michiru and me, go very well sir in fact Michiru and I, we…" Haruka paused for a second when she caught a glimpse of the unmistakable shade of Michiru's hair and she noticed her standing at the door holding her violin case and looking very pale, as if reading the tomboy's mind Michiru shook her head, her ocean blue eyes pleading.
-0-
Kasumi's misty eyes swept the guitar display in front of her, her delicate fingers touching the cord of a shiny looking Gibson guitar.
"Do you have a guitar of your own?" Turning around she nodded to the smiley redhead who held a receipt and seemed to have dropped her cello case somewhere in the store. "What kind of guitar is it?"
"An old one?" Hail laughed softly. "It was my dad's I'm not sure it's from a famous brand or anything, it's just a guitar."
"I see, are you looking to get a new one?"
"Not really, I was just thinking of a song…I mean I wrote a song and I was thinking of the music for it, but I think my abilities are slightly limited when it comes to writing music."
"A song? What kind of song?"
Blushing slightly Kasumi looked back at the guitars on the wall. "A romantic song."
"Oh… well my cello won't be ready for a couple hours, maybe I can be of some assistance with your musical issues. I'm sure they won't mind if we try one of these babies." With confidence Hail took a classical looking acoustic guitar from the display and sat on a bench tuning it up slowly.
"Are you sure we won't get in trouble?"
"Of course not, I'm an awesome client here, and besides the manager has a crush on me." Kasumi looked back at the cash where a middle age brunette woman leaned on the counter smiling, her eyes fixed on Hail.
"You're such a dog, is there any girl who doesn't comply to your whims?" She sat by Hail's side and Hail scratched the strings of the guitar looking up at her.
"Of course there is; Michiru in first place, then my sister who's more stubborn than a mule, and you, oh and don't forget Haruka Tenoh…. Mmm now that I think about it seems I only hang out with girls that don't do as I say, maybe I should switch friends."
Laughing freely Kasumi touched Hail's arm. "Oh such lies, Rain has such a sweet disposition."
"Oh right, for you maybe, you should see her when she's pmsing."
"That's rude Hail, now, now don't go talking trash about Rain, instead why don't you help me with that music."
"Ok, well, do you have any idea of how do you want it to sound? " The blonde shook her head and got of her bag a folded and refolded piece of paper.
"I have a few lyrics, maybe I can sing them to you?"
"Sounds good, maybe we can start a riff with that."
"Ok, but Hail…"
"Yes?"
"Don't laugh ok? It's a bit personal…"
"Don't worry I won't, it's rude to laugh at your sister in law isn't it?"
Kasumi's eyes lightened and she smiled again, unfolding the written and overwritten lines from what started as a love letter and were now part of what could become a song. "I was running, I was in hiding , chasing butterflies and there you found me…"
-0-
Following the gaze of Haruka wondering what had startled the blonde, Kaimu turned around and found his daughter; Michiru's expression suddenly blank as she tried to smile at her dad and walk into the classroom casually. "Dad! Hi!
"Michiru, you're early for your class isn't it?"
Smiling Michiru looked at her wristwatch. "Oh yeah, it seems so, I had some doubts regarding a new piece I'm practicing and I thought I could ask Ha…Miss Tenoh."
"I see, well I was having a word with Miss Tenoh regarding the upcoming duet, seems she still have things to talk to me about so why don't you be a good girl and leave us alone for a few more minutes?"
Haruka walked closer to the Kaioh's clearing her throat softly. "It's ok headmaster I just wanted to say your daughter and I are ready for the board meeting, and perhaps after the presentation we should all get together and discuss 'our' future options."
Haruka's words had a lot of weight on them and Michiru felt the teal eyes set on her as she talked, it was pretty obvious she meant to give Michiru a deadline before she talked to her father about them; Michiru knew from a few weeks ago now that Haruka was not good for hiding especially because she didn't want to, the blonde tomboy liked frontal confrontations and she was ready to make the move and tell all the truth to her dad.
With a knot on her throat Michiru nodded. "Yes, after the presentation the three of us should sit and talk about my future…"
Looking slightly surprised by the serious tone on Michiru's voice, Kaimu nodded back.
"I can't say I am not pleasantly surprised to hear you speak about your musical career in such a serious tone Michiru, I am happy that finally you start to realize how important it is to plan ahead." Michiru's smile was faint, it was true she had been avoiding the subject of who was she dating and even for a while the fact that she dated at all, but it was one thing to skirt the edge of truth and a very different one to mislead her dad and lie to his face. "Well I guess if there's nothing left to say I will leave you two to your affairs."
As the classroom door closed behind Kaimu, Michiru let out a long sigh. "I was going to tell him."
"Yes, I know…"
"Why do you insist so much on not telling him Michiru, do you believe what we're doing is wrong?"
Michiru turned around and place her soft violinist hand on Haruka's chest looking up into the now serious teal eyes. "No, no I don't but, you can get fired is that what you want? I don't think there's a good way to break it to my dad, he's very strict with the school policies, even for me, actually especially for me. He has tried all these years to make an example of me, I jump a lot of the rules behind his back and I've tortured a lot of tutors over the years but I will never break a rule in front of him, this school is his life work."
This time it was Haruka who sighed, cupping Michiru's hand on her own. "Well then I'll resign from my post after the board meeting." Michiru shook her head softly, a long silky curl of her hair loosening from her tall ponytail; Haruka caught the curl and caressing it softly with her free hand she pressed her lips to it. "You mean more to me than a job, any job any day."
"There has to be another way, there' still s a week before the presentation, I'll think of something ok?"
The tomboy nodded and lifting softly the girl's chin she pressed her lips against Michiru's. "After, no more lies. Ok?"
"Yes." Michiru's answer was a hushed whisper against Haruka's lips, closing her eyes she deepened the kiss between them, letting her hand flow along Haruka's back, pressing her own body against hers, feeling once again the sudden need that emerged in her every time she was in Haruka's arms a soft moan escaping her throat.
Hearing Michiru moan made Haruka lose it, it was as if every time she heard her moan a dam broke inside her letting a never ending wave of passion drawn them both, with swift hands she started unbuttoning Michiru's shirt, cupping firmly the ripe breasts, kissing her harder , pushing her softly against the piano.
It seemed like so long ago but at the same time like just yesterday the time when Michiru refused Haruka's loving advances in this very same room that stormy afternoon; today it was different, the sun was shining outside and anyone could easily walk through the door but she didn't care, she jumped on the piano and spread her legs invitingly, with what sounded like a lustful grunt Haruka's hand snaked between Michiru's thighs, reaching high until it brushed against the soft silk. "Haruka…"
Haruka closed her eyes for a second, the sound of her name in Michiru's lips lingering in her head like the some sort of magical song that made her lose any control, she knew it was risky and even crazy to just take her here but somehow that didn't mattered at the moment. Pulling the thin fabric that kept her apart from what her heart desired the most right now, the pianist thrust her fingers deep and hard.
Holding a loud moan Michiru bit her lower lip and held Haruka close to her, rocking her hips rhythmically against her lover.
"This is crazy…you drive me crazy Michiru." Haruka's heart pounded in her chest as she drew her fingers deeper, her center aching with need.
"I love you Haruka, if that's crazy too then let's stay crazy together."
Again their lips met, in a battle where there was no losers, the violinist hands reaching down to undo Haruka's clothes. "I've missed you, it seems like so long ago since the last time I touch you. I love you so much."
Hushing her lover's words with needy kisses Michiru's fingers reached their destination, the blonde spiraling towards her climax at an alarming speed. "Mmmm Haruka…"
-0-
"Texas?" Star turned around with a grand smile on her lips to find Rain trying to walk past her.
"Hey there, how was your talk with the headmaster?"
The redhead artist wondered that herself, could she said it went well? Or not really? Truth is she had been a total klutz, she was almost certain she even stuttered in front of Michiru's dad, she was so bad at lying. She had been looking all over for Michiru to tell her about her dad's questions, maybe she wasn't the only target of the headmaster's investigation. She tried reaching Hail but her sister wasn't picking up the phone. "Um… it was interesting."
"I see." Still unmovable, Texas remained blocking the door at her back. "Say, do you want to go get a drink?"
"A drink? There's a vending machine right there." Rain pointed across the hall less than ten feet from where they were standing.
"Right. How about a sandwich?"
"I'm not hungry, actually I need to talk to Michiru, is she in there?" Rain tried to look through the small window of the classroom but Tex move slightly to her right covering her view.
"You sure you're not hungry? I'll treat you, it's the least I can do with all the touring around you've given me lately."
"No I'm not, besides I told Hail we'll have sushi today…Tex are you purposely blocking the door?" Showing again her perfectly straight white teeth Texas Star smiled at Rain.
"We should give them a minute or two."
"Huh?"
"To Michiru and …Professor Tenoh." Texas found it hard to keep a straight face on the verge of the recent events; she had stopped by Akira's office after Rain and her parted ways earlier that day, and the raven haired girl had asked her questions and seemed curious about her opinion regarding Michiru's presence at the breakfast table that morning. Subject which the sculptor unwisely joke about, telling Akira it was unfortunate to see Michiru sat down at the table wearing more clothes than earlier that morning, for which she was rewarded with a cold stare followed by Akira's quick excuses to shove her off her office.
In any case she figured she should talk to Michiru and clear the air, of course she never expected to almost walk into the said girl and her teacher, clothes half off and getting it on the piano, even for someone like her for which remaining cool was a very natural thing the sight froze her on the spot for a very long minute and she was about to turn around and left quietly when she bumped into Rain Tenki.
"A minute for what? Are they practicing? Oh just move aside, this is more important." Rain managed to walk past Texas opening the door quickly before the tall brunette could find the right words to explain why it wasn't wise to walk into the room and she found herself facing a very surprised looking Haruka and Michiru.
"Um… Hi Rain…" Haruka managed to compose a smile and a small wave, while Michiru too embarrassed to even look back tried to button up her uniform shirt, a useless task to try and cover herself considering her skirt rested rolled up around her waist and Haruka's pants where around her ankles.
Rain debated for a moment whether to laugh, blush, turn around and run or coming with a terribly clever comment but all she found was the feeling of being terribly uncomfortable at the present situation. "I think, I will wait outside." Turning around the twin exited through the door closing it behind her, feeling the color rising in her cheeks to almost match the bright shade of her hair. "You could have warned me!"
With a grin between apologetic and amused, Texas tilted her hat a bit. "Well…I tried…"
Rain laughed nervously shaking her head, life was definitely never boring around here, she even felt in the mood to make a small joke when the realization of Texas being the one who found Haruka and Michiru in such delicate affairs hit her. "Oh! Oh no, they…you…oh darn."
"Don't worry lass I already knew."
"You did?" Rain tilted her head, well at least she didn't had a fire to put off.
"They're not good at hiding it."
"No kidding…" Both girls laughed and Rain tried to erase of her mind the vision of Michiru on the piano, as the blush went back to her cheeks and her lips felt dry the door opened behind them and Michiru came out.
The violinist looked at them; she had taken a few seconds to get rid of the blush on her cheeks and appeared calmed but now she realized not only Rain had caught them red handed. "Oh no! You too, Texas?"
Texas smiled brightly at Michiru, infinitely amused by the mortified tone of Michiru's words. "Well Hello Miss Kaioh, I almost didn't recognize you with your clothes on."
Michiru was speechless, for a moment there she stood quiet and still her lips parted open; a chuckle behind her made her snap and she sent a dirty look to Haruka who was emerging at the door right behind her. "I think it will be best if we talk inside the classroom."
Rain looked at Haruka, her faint heart not really ready to go back inside the classroom, actually why don't we just get together for lunch and we give you girls time to… finish 'your practice'."
Haruka nodded I agreement, not that she was going to start her advances with Michiru again after being caught like this, well at least not today. "Ok then."
Michiru sighed as the two girls walked away and turned to look a Haruka. "This is a mess."
"To say the least, see why is such a bad idea to keep hiding? The twins know, Kasumi, Akira and now Texas, it just takes one of them to slip and everyone will know."
Lowering her shoulders in defeat the smaller girl nodded, they had to come clean one way or another, the clock was ticking. "One week, its all I ask ok?"
"After the showcase, not one minute later."
-0-
"So how did you enjoyed it?"
"I actually enjoyed it a lot, of course it's hard with you, you always want to be in control." Kasumi run her fingers along the silky golden strands of her hair; she and Hail had been out longer than expected, the whole morning and even part of the afternoon had gone away while both of them sat at the music store trying to come with a musical arrangement for the lyrics Kasumi had written.
In honesty Kasumi had felt very shy at first not sure if Hail was going to mock a bit the tender feelings she had invested on her song, especially because she considered Hail a bit more of a player rather than a sweet and loving kind of girl, but to her surprise when it came to music Hail was completely professional.
Not once did she questioned the origin of the lyrics or try throwing any of her famous bad puns, she was completely absorbed in the composing part trying her best to follow Kasumi's voice along with the notes playing the riffs over and over, writing them down and trying again and again.
At some point she had to put on her charms with the store manager who ended up letting them use the employees lounge to finish off their meddling; thing that Kasumi thought came too easily to Hail Tenki, it was clear to the singer that if Rain knew the potential behind her smile half as well as Hail did she probably will be contending with a lineup of girls for her.
"Well you know me, I love being on top…of things." Kasumi burst into laughter at Hail's sexy wink, she started to grow accustomed to the incessant flirting and she even flirted back a bit in return, they both knew it meant nothing, the couple had found time to talk more about Kasumi's feelings for Rain and Hail had make sure to tell the blonde she needed to be more proactive if she expected anything in return for her feelings. "So when are we doing this again then?"
Sighing the blonde stopped. "I don't know, I don't think I want the others to find out just yet."
"Why not?"
"Well what if 'this' doesn't go anywhere and then we get people asking and wanting to find out what's going on. I'm just not ready."
The cellist took the soft blonde's hand on her own and squeezed it softly. "Have some faith in your own talent, I think inside you there is never ending fountain of inspiration ready to burst and be drink off."
"You're too kind, I'm a singer, not all singers are writers and I may have to face that, but this is important to me, personal, intimate."
Rain was about to turn the corner when she stopped at the sound of Kasumi's words, something personal, intimate… A voice, more like a scream in her head told her to walk around the corner and announce her presence, or even turn around and walk away, but there was a small whisper in her ear telling her that eavesdropping just for a second wasn't going to be the end of the world. Biting her lower lip she stood very still and tried to keep listening to the conversation.
"I know it's very intimate, perhaps you're right, until we decide where this is going maybe we shouldn't tell."
"Especially Rain, promise me you won't tell her."
"Hmmm nothing at all? You know we're really close Kas."
"Yes, I know but I don't know how she'll react to this, I'm a bit scared of her reaction."
"Oh nonsense, well ok ok, don't give me that face, I won't tell a soul. But we have to find a place to meet then somewhere private. Maybe your room?"
The blonde nodded. "I'll let you know when Michiru's gone. She spent the night at Haruka's yesterday so maybe she will again, you think you can sneak out after the curfew?"
"Uh-oh, let me think, sneaking out with a hot blonde to do secret endeavors or stay in my room practicing …. Tough choice."
Kasumi again laughed softly. "Secret endeavors is that how you're calling this?"
Leaning against the blonde and using her seductive voice Hail smiled. "Very secret endeavors."
"Gotcha. Now let's go find Rain in starving."
"You're hungry again?"
"What do you mean again? We ate hours ago and all this activities made me very hungry you see."
"I thought skinny sexy blondes didn't eat."
"Oh rude, and I thought you knew not to point a girl eating habits."
"Yeah yeah, let's go get you some food then…"
Rain heard the voices of her sister and Kasumi walking away, she scolded herself for half hearing a conversation, especially one like this one: Where had Hail and Kasumi spent the whole morning together? What were these secret activities they were doing? And why did she had a knot on her stomach and the distinct feeling that her sister and Kasumi were doing something that was going to break her heart into a million pieces? Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath the redhead tried to calm her heart that beat fast on her chest. There had to be a reasonable explanation to this, there had to.
The images of Michiru and Haruka entangled in the piano came back to her mind and started mixing in her mind until the images resembled to much of her sister and Kasumi instead, and Rain tried to push them off her mind without results as she walked to the lunch area where she will had to sit across from Kasumi and her smiles and try really, really hard to stop thinking of her and Hail with their clothes torn off in a dusty classroom.
(A/N: oh no I guess I'll have to come with the next chapter soon ah? Well you know the drill, review!)