A/N - Yo. Sorry for the delay, but you know the drama of computers when they die on you. Anyhow, here is the chapter y'all have been very patient for. I'd like to thank Reusch17 once again for using her smexxi skills and proof-reading this (you really are so patient with me and my horrendous grammatical errors! ). So without any further ado, here is the chapter.
CHAPTER 14 – CON TE PARTIRO
Michiru approached her parents soon after the waltz had ended and had been speaking with them for a few minutes about some idle chitchat, while all the while Seiya was standing right behind her. Michiru's mother looked at the young man, who seemed as though he had something on his mind, and she bent down into Michiru's ear,
"Is this the young man you were speaking about? The special one?" Michiru turned a bright colour of red before shaking her head vehemently.
"No! Okaa-san, Seiya-kun is just a friend!" Michiru's father chuckled gently,
"Ah, now we have a name, huh? The poor boy has been standing there for over two minutes and you've yet to introduce him to us, Michi!" Michiru turned to Seiya and smiled apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Seiya-kun, I forgot to introduce you to my parents. This is Asami Kaioh my mother, and my father Katsuo Kaioh. Mother, father, this is Seiya Kou, my dancing partner." Seiya bowed in respect to Michiru's parents and they too bowed back. Before Seiya could give a verbal greeting, Katsuo spoke to him, more curiously than rudely.
"So, that young man knew you, Kou-san?" Seiya was bewildered. What young man? There were like thirty here tonight who knew him! Upon seeing Seiya's perplexed face, Katsuo chucked.
"Ah don't worry, he left shortly after... quite rude if you ask me. But the two seconds he was here, he didn't take his eyes off of you, Kou-san. I daresay you have a male admirer." Michiru's father said that last part in a whisper which caused Seiya to wince. All he needed now was a male admirer to top off all the drama in his life.
"Thanks for the heads-up, Kaioh-san. Please excuse me, but I would like to have a word with your daughter before our dance. Excuse us." Seiya gently took Michiru by the hand and lead her away from her parents at one side of the entrance and took her to just the other side, her back to the door. Michiru didn't even notice Leon and Yumi re-enter the room, and Seiya sighed.
"I had better say this quick, Michiru. The judges are back." Michiru glanced quickly over her left shoulder to the judges table and sure enough Leon and Yumi were making their way to the judges' table. They began to talk animatedly with the other judges and seemed to be in a small argument, but Michiru's attention was snapped back to Seiya as he cleared his throat.
"Michiru, it's common knowledge about your feelings for Haruka. I know that now, though I didn't know that until yesterday... I'm a little embarrassed to say it now, but I kind of, well, I liked you a lot okay. But if there's one thing I've learned with women, it's that there's no point in trying to sway their opinion." Seiya laughed to himself and he seemed a little lost as to what he should say. He lowered his head, "I tried my best to get here tonight for two reasons, Michiru. I promised you I would be here, and I had to prove to everyone that I'm not the person I was last year. I was a jerk, I was jealous of Keiko and Haruka. I was brought up a different way, but I know now what I did was wrong. And I don't want to leave here being known as 'that guy'. But I know it'll take more than words before everyone, hell, before anyone can forgive me for betraying my best friend, but I want to work hard at showing it with actions rather than words... that I'm sorry." Seiya lifted his head to look at Michiru but his gaze was brought to the figure standing at the entrance, looking at the two, with a sad look in their deep green eyes. A hand was run swiftly through blonde hair and Seiya smiled gently to Haruka, who returned it after a moment's hesitation. Seiya gulped nervously,
"I'm sorry, Haruka. I really am." Michiru looked at Seiya confused. She saw he was not looking at her, and usually she would have thought this a very rude thing to do in conversation, but she was too confused. Why did he apologize as though Haruka was there? So she thought for a second.
"Haruka?" Michiru thought just verbalizing her confusion in one word would give Seiya the hint to clarify himself. But he said nothing. He still stared over her shoulder. She was about to speak again, but she was frozen to the spot as she heard a familiar husky voice speak.
"Yes?" Michiru slowly, oh ever so slowly, turned around. Her eyes widened in evident shock and she finally saw the one person she had been hoping would turn up all night. Those green eyes looked deep into her very soul and seemed to devour every fibre in her being. And Michiru longed to be held in those arms again.
"H-Haruka? What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in Mie and - " Haruka laughed heartily.
"Man, if one more person asks me why I'm here, I may just hop in my car and leave."
"NO! I- I mean, don't leave." Michiru could feel the colour rising to her cheeks and before she knew it Haruka had placed her hand gently on her cheek, the back of Haruka's hand softly caressing her.
"I would never dream of it." A moment passed in which Michiru could feel herself melt in those familiar green orbs that brought her so much happiness and sadness in the past two months. Then a cough from behind Haruka snapped both teens out of their moment. Haruka turned around and was faced with Asami and Katsuo Kaioh; Michiru's mother with one eyebrow raised and a smirk on her face whereas Michiru's father seemed to be glaring daggers at the youth who touched his daughter so intimately. Michiru's father cleared his throat and kept his gaze fixed on Haruka.
"And you are?" Haruka looked to Michiru who was blushing profusely, which in turn made Haruka smirk.
"Haruka Tenoh." Haruka bowed respectfully to Michiru's parents. As she stood up straight, they could see Leon approach the microphone again, a smile gracing his handsome features.
"I am very sorry for the delay, I had an urgent matter to deal with... now without any further delay, we would like to invite Michiru Kaioh and her partner to the floor, and they will be dancing the Viennese Waltz." Leon sat back down.
Haruka turned to Michiru and Seiya and forced a smile.
"Good luck you two, remember the steps I taught you." She saw Michiru frown but then force a smile too. Seiya on the other hand was shaking his head. Haruka looked at him questioningly.
"No... I don't think I'm going to dance this one, Haruka-san." Seiya waved his hand at the two who were about to blow their lids at him. "After last year... I think that this one is yours, for sure." Haruka looked down at Michiru who was trying to suppress a smile.
"But I'm not registered to dance." Could Haruka have sounded more pathetic? In her mind, no, she pretty much reached the pinnacle with that.
"Ha, and I wasn't last year, and I danced. Go, now, before you're penalized for a delay. Go!" Seiya pushed the two girls to the direction of the dance-floor and after a few seconds the two teens began walking of their own accord to the dance-floor. Everyone at the Mugen table began talking excitedly, especially Minako and Usagi who decided to start gushing at their other halves and talking about how romantic it all was. As Michiru and Haruka finally made it to the main floor, there was a hubbub of whispers. Nearly everyone in this room had been here at the last Comps, when Haruka Tenoh announced she wasn't going to dance to Makoto, who in turn told her friends – and once Usagi and Minako knew, everyone knew. So to see Haruka Tenoh suddenly turn up at the Winter Comps, and to dance, well… that was nothing short of pure gossip heaven.
The judge who had taken over from Leon previously grabbed the microphone and told everyone to be quiet as they had been delayed enough. Leon ignored the man, and wrapped his arm around Yumi, as they looked on at their daughter who had the girl of her dreams, the woman she loved in her arms. Yumi brought a gentle kiss to Leon's cheek and the two watched with baited breath as the music began to play.
"You look beautiful, Michiru." Haruka found herself whispering, as she gently took Michiru's hand in her own, their eyes locked. Michiru usually would have turned her head away in embarrassment at such a statement from the blonde, but instead she found herself unable to take her eyes away from the tomboy. She thought for a split second that if she looked away, that Haruka would disappear and all this would have been a dream. A cruel, wonderful dream played on her by the Gods... or her over-active imagination.
"You look very handsome, Haruka." Haruka stole a quick glance at herself, ducking her head down to look at a brief view of her own body and attire. She smirked as she raised her head and gazed into the deep blue eyes that she loved so much. Their cue was about to come up, and Haruka smiled broadly at the beautiful young woman in front of her. The blonde could feel her heart pound as that smile was returned with so much love and intensity… it could almost cause you to faint.
Haruka took Michiru's hand gently, and by her fingertips she guides Michiru to stand side-by-side to her, before smoothly bringing herself in front of the younger girl, and bowing as Michiru curtsied. As Michiru rose, so did Haruka, and she closed the distance between the two, placing her left hand in Michiru's at shoulder length and placing her left hand just behind Michiru's shoulder blades, her arms a little more firm than usual, almost as though Haruka was fighting to take the young violinist and bring her into a deep embrace.
Quando sono sola
sogno all'orizzonte
e mancan le parole,
si lo so che non c'è luce
in una stanza quando manca il sole,
se non ci sei tu con me, con me.
Su le finestre
mostra a tutti il mio cuore
che hai accesso,
chiudi dentro me
la luce che
hai incontrato per strada.
Haruka gently dipped Michiru's head back, and brought her up swiftly. She then took her into four consecutive twirls on the spot, before taking her into four more, while moving diagonally across the dance-floor. Michiru kept her eyes fixed on Haruka as much as possible. Haruka pushed Michiru gently forward, high on their toes, keeping level, giving the effect they were floating across the floor. Haruka decided to not fight with the smile that threatened to take over her face. And once Michiru saw the happiness in the other girls' eyes, she fought to keep her blush at bay too.
"Kou-san, is there something we should know about Tenoh-kun and our daughter?" Katsuo gazed over to Seiya who was watching the couple. Seiya smiled gently and nodded,
"Hai, Haruka-chan is in love with your daughter, sir." Katsuo stared at his daughter in shock for a moment, then he turned to his wife. She seemed to be frowning, but she looked up at Seiya.
"Haruka Tenoh is... a girl?" Seiya said nothing but nodded slowly. Asami looked at her daughter and saw the serene smile on her face. She had never seen her so happy. "And Michiru?" Seiya broke his gaze from the young couple dancing and turned to Michiru's parents.
"I believe that she is in love with Haruka-chan. They love each other very deeply." Nothing more needed to be said, and all three re-directed their eyes to Haruka and Michiru on the dance-floor, seemingly oblivious to everyone and everything except the person in their arms.
Time to say goodbye. -- Con te partirò.
Paesi che non ho mai
veduto e vissuto con te,
adesso sì li vivrò.
Con te partirò
su navi per mari
che, io lo so,
no, no, non esistono più,
it's time to say goodbye. -- con te io li vivrò.
Haruka kept Michiru's hips connected with hers while Michiru's head was slightly outward, only adding to her natural grace and beauty. Haruka smirked and brought them to a second set of four still spins, followed by four floor spins, and as they finished their fourth, Haruka dipped Michiru back, bringing their bodies' parallel in a perfect dip.
Time to say goodbye. -- Con te partirò.
Paesi che non ho mai
veduto e vissuto con te,
adesso sì li vivrò.
Con te partirò
su navi per mari
che, io lo so,
no, no, non esistono più,
"Sugoi. They look so perfect together. Don't you think so, Rei-koi?" Rei blushed at the use of 'koi' added to her name but when she looked at her girlfriend, who was staring at Michiru, with a glazed over look in her eyes, Rei instantly decided not to chide her. Instead, she held her hand and intertwined their fingers, and then slowly brought it to her mouth and kissed the back of Minako's hand gently. Minako blushed at the public display of affection that was rarely shown from her lover but instead of saying anything, she decided to lean into Rei for a gentle embrace and a sense of happiness and warmth the young blonde could only find in her Rei-chan. Upon seeing Rei and Minako, a young blue-haired genius smiled, wishing that she could be brave enough to show public affection with her other half. This thought didn't last long though, as the tall brunette next to her placed a gentle kiss on her cheek and wrapped an arm around the young Mizuno.
"M-Mako?" Makoto smirked at her lover and squeezed her shoulder affectionately.
"Ami, you don't need to say something for me to know what it is you want." Ami smiled gently at her lover. Taiki didn't need another second to think, and he found himself holding Setsuna's hand, a faint blush across his cheek. Setsuna settled into a loose embrace and smiled blissfully. All this was watched by their best friend; Usagi and her boyfriend Mamoru. The ditzy blonde looked up at him and Mamoru said nothing but placed a gentle kiss on Usagi's lips.
"I love you, Mamo-chan."
Quando sei lontana
sogno all'orizzonte
e mancan le parole,
e io si lo so
che sei con me, con me,
tu mia luna tu sei qui con me,
mio sole tu sei qui con me,
con me, con me, con me.
"The kids are all so sweet, don't you think darling?" Yumi spoke gently as she rested her head on her husband's shoulder and she took her gaze away from the Mugen students and placed them back on her daughter, who was dancing perfectly. There was nothing to criticise. Leon nodded to his wife.
"Yeah, love is a many splendored thing, koi." Leon smiled proudly at his daughter as they approached the mid-crescendo in their dance.
Time to say goodbye. -- Con te partirò.
Paesi che non ho mai
veduto e vissuto con te,
adesso sì li vivrò.
Con te partirò
su navi per mari
che, io lo so,
no, no, non esistono più,
Haruka held Michiru in her arms as they stopped for a moment and looked into each other's eyes. Haruka held her close and then lead her around in the fastest spin in the waltz; usually you would get dizzy but today there was no chance of any feeling overwhelming, especially something as trivial as motion sickness. Michiru placed her hands on Haruka's shoulders as Haruka allowed her to dip backwards once more, then as she was brought up, she was just inches from Haruka's face, and found herself no longer longing for just the blonde physically, but in every other way you would want for your soul-mate. She needed to be this close always, emotional and physically. Michiru smiled inwardly, and she allowed herself to be led. She let go as Haruka guided her to follow with a close spin. Michiru knew that before when she first danced with the blonde she hadn't let go, she had only let her walls down, and now, she had let go. She trusted Haruka fully, to lead her, to protect her, to always be there for her. There were no more insecurities; only the remembrance of her foolhardy actions the night before. Michiru wouldn't wait one year for the racer; she would wait an eternity if it meant she could be with her Ruka again.
con te io li rivivrò.
Con te partirò
su navi per mari
che, io lo so,
no, no, non esistono più,
con te io li rivivrò.
Con te partirò
Io con te.
Haruka gently spun Michiru away from her and Michiru soon found herself lacking in the warmth, but it wasn't for long. Haruka strode over and placed her arms around the girls' midsection, embracing her from behind, and she snuck her hands onto Michiru's and gave her hands a warm squeeze before lifting them up above Michiru's head. The blonde slowly let her hands slide down the young violinists' arms, until they reached her shoulders. Then she turned Michiru around and held her tenderly in her arms. Neither noticed when the music stopped and nor did they care. All that mattered was this moment. Soon the applause came, and once the two broke from the spell they had created on one another they looked around and could see some astounded faces, some surprised for sure, and some definitely happy. Michiru turned around to see all of her and Haruka's friends smiling lovingly at them. Michiru's parents were even smiling too. Haruka turned to see her parents, who seemed to still be sitting, not applauding but looking at her with so much love in her eyes she could have cried. Haruka was about to turn away when she saw Leon mouth 'perfect' to her. Michiru could see Haruka blush and she turned to the blonde.
"I'm glad you came, Haruka." Haruka said nothing but continued to stare at her. They ignored everything once again, even the score that came up on the electronic display. Haruka decided to bite the bullet.
"I came back because I had to see you. I'm leaving the day after tomorrow, Michi, and I needed to spend every second I could with you. I couldn't waste a day and a half in Mie when I'd rather cherish a day and a half with you." Michiru found herself speechless. Haruka was leaving one week earlier... she wasn't sure what to do. Wait, she did. She knew exactly what she would do.
"I will wait for you, Haruka. I promise." Haruka burst into a large smile as she heard those words escape Michiru's mouth. She lifted the younger girl off of the floor in a sweep style lifting motion. As soon as she set the younger girl down, she noticed every set of eyes on her, and she instantly blushed. A melodic giggle was elicited from Michiru and Haruka raised an eyebrow at her. Before Haruka could speak, she found herself being lead away by Michiru from the dance-floor and straight out to the corridor just beside the room they had danced in. Haruka decided not to question the younger girl's actions, when they finally stopped walking about twenty yards from the room. Haruka took Michiru's hand gently in her own.
"Y'know, when I come back, you'll be the only person I'll really want to see, Michi." Haruka smiled gently and looked down to see Michiru, but the younger girl had her head hanging down slightly. The tomboy slowly brought her hand to the violinist's face and placed her fingers under Michiru's chin to lift her face ever so slightly. Haruka looked deep into Michiru's eyes.
"Twelve months is only a fraction of the lifetime we have ahead. Please Michi, don't cry." Michiru pushed herself slightly back from Haruka, still in her embrace but being able to look at Haruka fully.
"Ruka, please... it's hard enough. The next year isn't going to be easy so could you at least make this bit as easy as possible. Can we pretend that you're not going, and can we just spend tonight as a normal couple?" Michiru looked pleadingly up into the blonde's eyes as she searched for Haruka's answer. Haruka smiled gently and she nodded.
"Anything for you, Michi." Before Michiru could respond, she felt a pair of lips on hers. Lips she had been longing for. They were the lips of the woman in front of her. The lips of her lover. Michiru found herself closing her eyes and melting into the kiss. There was no lust behind it, there was no fighting for entry into each other's mouths, it was just a kiss as pure as the love they had for one another. It only lasted a few seconds but for all either teen knew it had lasted an eternity. Haruka pulled back first.
"I'm sorry, but I had to steal just one kiss. It's what normal couples do, right?" Michiru laughed gently and playfully hit Haruka's arm. Then there was a silence, and Haruka gently caressed her young lover's arm. Michiru shuddered at the contact.
"I love you, Haruka Tenoh." Haruka looked down at Michiru and their eyes locked again. Haruka searching Michiru's eyes out of habit for any malicious intent but finding none, and the blonde smiled in relief and she kissed her young love on the forehead.
"I love you too, Michiru Kaioh."
A/N 2 -Yay right? Anyways if you made it this far, you know what you have got to do - R&R hombres!
The wicked ass song (which I unfortunately do not own) in this chapter was "Time to Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro)" performed by the amazing Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli - if you don't know it, go and watch it on youtube... NOW!
Once again, nothing but love for Reusch17. And to all the reviewers who have come back time and time again (Akira-kun, Shiro, Swinging Cloud, Heven, Petiyaka, Trixxie, SilentKing, Helleberos, Katie, YingYangTwin1, Lita DeLacour, krugern, Merochu, RukaMichi92, Haruka-Michiru, Mantary, harucino antz2uyeah arsenal did win :P, Asakure, Pyunji, Thepillows93, freaky-icefairy, Salior Rain, impersonal, jadedlilgirl, Wicked Prince X, animeprincess74, Bomichan, xLostSoulx and aslias etcetera) - I thought y'all should know you're all loved!
Anyway, leave a note if you want the epilogue or not - I'm in two minds as to whether or not it belongs. Meh, it's up to you guys. Till then, take care - Karis.