Family Affairs

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The Lust Chronicles

Chapter Fifteen: Apologies

Michiru sat quietly in her chair, despite the fact that she had heard the front door open. She knew who it was but she was doing her best for the past couple of weeks, to ignore this person and avoid paying attention to her. Ever since her discussion with Seiya, she had purposefully arranged to be isolated from everyone else. No one understood her and she didn't expect them to, but if anyone else was going to judge her like Seiya did, then she didn't want to be around any of them. Besides, what was the use of friends? Most of them gossiped, spread rumors and aren't 'there' when you need them the most. 'I could use all this time to practice for my upcoming concert anyways.' Michiru leaned back into her seat, somewhat overwhelmed at the situation she was in. None of her excuses could justify her actions or behavior lately… no matter how hard she tried to convince herself.

" Hi, Michiru. " The tall blonde stood at the opposite end of Michiru's small dining table. She stood watching with an unreadable expression, incessantly fidgeting with a beanie in her hand. " How was your night? " Haruka's eyes darted around the room attempting to find something other than Michiru to rest themselves upon. " Quiet, then? " Haruka waited for a response even though she knew it would never come. " Mine was quiet too. " After an everlasting five minutes, the blonde heaved a sigh, more than likely a sign of defeat, and trudged her way upstairs.

Michiru let out a heavy sigh as well. It hurt her to ignore Haruka to such lengths. The poor girl had been trying very hard to get her attention all month. Their conversations were always one sided, with Haruka constantly trying to provoke a response out of Michiru, but it never happened. There was this burning feeling of anger towards the blonde that Michiru simply could not get rid of. It wasn't just affecting herself, her feelings were affecting Haruka. But she simply could not stop the burning feeling. Michiru rested her face in her hands, holding back hot tears. She'd never been this torn in her life. She loved Makoto, she did. But she couldn't help these overwhelming feelings for Haruka. Try as she might, there was nothing she could do to hide them from herself and there was nothing she could do to get rid of them. And yet they still remained for her to be agonized with.

" You look tense. " Haruka mentioned as she appeared from out of the kitchen with two mugs of coffee. The blonde placed one in front of Michiru and took the seat across the table. " Have you been working on the midterm projects coming up? " There was a dead silence between the two but that didn't stop Haruka. For some reason, Michiru's lack of response only seemed to push Haruka to try harder. " I can't believe it's almost Christmas. We've got a couple weeks left but I'm really excited. "

" It's still November. " Michiru finally replied, somewhat irritated.

Haruka seemed to light up with enthusiasm. This was the first time all week Michiru had said anything to her, even if it was said with a not-so-promising tone, it was something for her to happy about. " Hai, it is. But it's the end of November which means we only have another four weeks, at most. "

" Why would you be excited for Christmas? "

Haruka glanced down at her mug, reflecting on the question. A distant expression entered the blonde's eyes which caused Michiru to put her pen down and focus on the blonde's response.

" That's when father will be home. He always comes home for Christmas. " Haruka swallowed hard at the idea of her dad only visiting on holidays. She hated having to think about him, especially after she had met her friends' fathers, who were saints in comparison to her own father. " We sometimes have eggnog, we open presents really early in the morning, then the whole afternoon we spend with each other. We can do whatever we want but normally we do things that we enjoy together. "

" I see. " Michiru too, was disgusted with her mother but this conversation only made her anger build even more. She quickly started losing interest until Haruka had mentioned one last thing.

" It's the only day of the year that I feel like I have a family. " Tears came to the blonde's eyes. She held them back with ease but it still shocked Michiru to see Haruka, of all people, shed tears. " I'm trying so hard, Michi. I'm trying so hard to have a family without him. I'm trying so hard to be happy, without him, but I depend so much on you. You've given me more meaning to my life in the past four months than anyone has in my entire life. I don't understand why we keep going through these arguments. I can't stand not talking to you. I didn't realize how good your voice sounded, until this week. " Haruka stopped herself, hoping she hadn't made Michiru uncomfortable with those words. " I … I don't know what I have done to offend you Michiru but I need you in my life. I do. " Haruka stood up from her chair and made her way towards the other girl. " Michiru, please, if there is something I'm doing wrong let me know. "

" It's not that -- " Michiru was interrupted by a pair of hands on her shoulders. She felt Haruka rubbing the tension out of her muscles, slowly causing Michiru's body to relax. " Haruka-- "

" Shh. " Haruka whispered quietly in her ear. Michiru closed her eyes, trying not to give in to the ideas forming in her mind, but she couldn't help but melt in Haruka's hands. " We'll start with something basic. How have you been? "

Michiru moistened her lips and decided to humor Haruka. " Alone. "

" Hai, I have been the same. " Haruka admitted. " And, your studies, how are they? "

" Better, ever since I have stopped going out as much. "

" I see. What about your concert coming up, are you prepared? "

Of course she wasn't. With all of the thoughts running through her mind lately, she hadn't been able to focus as well as she could. There was just too much going on to actually be able write something worth playing. " Yes. " She lied, hoping Haruka wouldn't catch her on it.

" Hm. " Haruka was quiet for a couple moments. " Michiru, would you happen to be lying to me? "

Michiru hesitated. She was starting to hate when she lied to Haruka. It was almost as if the blonde knew the answer before she even asked the question. " Would I happen to be? " She replied.

" I think you are. I haven't heard you play in a long time. Not even from your balcony. Either you are practicing when you are at school or you are not practicing at all. "

" What's the difference to you? It doesn't matter what I'm doing. "

" Michiru. " Haruka leaned in quietly. " I think I have an idea. " The blonde released her grip on Michiru's shoulders, leaving a very disappointed Michiru behind. She had absolutely loved the massage she had received, though she would never admit that to Haruka. " Michiru, come. " The blonde took Michiru's hand in hers and walked her into the study. " You will practice in here and I will be your audience. " Haruka picked up her violin case that had been placed upon a shelf. " If you don't practice now, you won't make it in time for the competition. "

Haruka was right but it didn't matter if she didn't have a partner and besides, she was supposed to be ignoring Haruka right now. " I don't want to practice and I don't want to practice in front of you. Don't you get my point? I don't want to be anywhere around you. " Michiru folded her arms across her chest.

" Don't you get mine? I need you Michiru. And I don't care what you say to me or to anyone else, you need me too. " Haruka stepped closer to Michiru. " Now, are you going to pick up your violin or should I force you to pick it up? "

" Neither. You can't make me do anything. And I don't need you, Haruka. I don't. Quit lying to yourself. You're just making things more complicated. You're not my real 'brother' and your father will end up not marrying my mother. "

" Michiru! " Haruka was going to pull the hair from her head. " You are beyond stubborn. " The blonde opened the violin case and pulled out the violin. " If you don't practice now, you won't be able to play later. And I know how important this violin is to you - it sets you free - so let it set you free now. Pick up the violin. Please. " Haruka handed the violin to Michiru.

" What's the point Haruka? " Michiru took the violin but was a bit angered by the blonde's words. " Even if I wanted to play I can't! They have changed the competition rules and have excluded me from the competition unless I can find a partner. But I haven't - so there's no point in trying now. " Michiru laid the violin down on the shelf and threw herself into the couch. Haruka watched her as the aqua-haired girl put a pillow over her own head.

" You're a sore loser. "

" If you're so smart, what would you suggest me to do? " Michiru asked, muffled by the pillow that was over her head.

" Get a partner. "

Michiru laughed out of frustration. " Yes, let me just come up with a partner out of nowhere. Now, where's my magic wand… " Michiru replied, her words dripping with sarcasm. The room became quiet for a couple moments but she did hear a few background sounds. " What are you doing now? "

" Using your wand. " Haruka replied, referring to her sarcasm. Michiru only rolled her eyes under the pillow and began to consider sleeping on the couch as an alternative to her problems. " Michiru. "

The aqua-haired girl heard her name being called and shortly after, she heard the most beautiful sound in the world. The sounds quickly formed a tune, the tune to a song. She heard the music begin to flow in and out of her ears, charming her senses. The melody was soft, slow, vibrant and stunning. It was enough to motivate her to find the source of such music. When she lifted the pillow from her head, she was even more surprised to see Haruka working her fingers ever so smoothly across her mother's old piano. She brought her knees to her chest and watched in amazement. No one she met could ever play that fluidly. It was as if the music had no imperfections and ceased to be anything less than perfect. She took a deep breath, hearing the climax of the song come and go - it sent shivers down her spine. She was absolutely thrilled at the music that Haruka was producing. She'd never seen someone so attuned to an instrument in her life. No, not attuned. Haruka was attached to the piano, it was as almost if, Haruka and the piano were one and the same. She simply couldn't fathom any other reason as to why Haruka's music was flawless. When Haruka ended her song, Michiru was disappointed that it had to stop.

" It's been a while. " The blonde moved out of her seat and stretched out her fingers. " I'm a little bit tight. "

" Tight? That was the best thing I have ever heard in my life. "

" No, the best music to exist on this planet, is the music that comes from your violin. " Haruka took a seat on the floor next to Michiru's couch. " I would hate for you to stop playing or not compete in this competition just because you don't have a partner. It would pain me if that were to happen. "

" You would be my partner just because you don't want me to stop playing? "

" I would be your partner because I know how much playing means to you. I know that it sets you free and if I could be a part of setting you free, then I would never object to being your partner. " Haruka's piercing green eyes fell upon Michiru's face as she looked down upon her.

Michiru couldn't help but return the same gaze that she had been receiving. No one had ever done as much for as Haruka had already done - but this - this surpassed all acts of kindness that she would ever receive. " Haruka, I can't accept this. I have been terrible to you. "

" I don't care Michiru. As long as you're here from now on, I don't care. I hate when we fight and if helping you reach your goal keeps me close to you, then I simply don't care. I just don't want to fight anymore. You mean too much to me. " Haruka smiled at Michiru. " Will you accept my offer? "

" Graciously. " Michiru pursued her lips in thought. " But tell me, what was the piece that you were just playing? "

Haruka blushed and glanced around the room, trying to dodge Michiru's eyes. " It's uh, something I composed. "

" Wow, I'm impressed. What's the name of the composition? "

" In love. "

" Oh. After Minako? "

The blonde averted her eyes to the piano, wondering if she should explain the reason behind the song. 'On second thought that might not be such a good idea.' " Uh.. Yes.. After Minako. "

" Oh. " Michiru paused. " I didn't know that you had such strong feelings for her. "

" We've gotten to be pretty close over the last couple of weeks. " Haruka put a hand on her neck, relieving some of the anxiety she was having. " By the way, I'm sorry for not telling you about our relationship. "

" It's not a problem, besides, the way I reacted someone would have thought you and I were dating. " Michiru giggled when she remembered some of the rumors that went flying after the incident. " Of course that took some time to straighten out. "

" People thought we were dating? " Haruka asked, curious as to why that rumor kept coming up.

Michiru nodded. " I'm sorry too, for overreacting. I was taking your decision much too personally. I guess I was just hurt by the idea of you not trusting me anymore. "

" You know I'll always trust you, Michiru. "

" I know, that's why you're such a good brother. "

Haruka cringed on the inside at the sound of the word 'brother' but she continued to smile anyways.