Disclaimer: Same as before
"talking"
Italics thoughts
Chapter 2: A week to remember
Tuesday:
The next day Haruka is at school 30 minutes early wondering back to the auditorium to speak with Michiru's mother. Once there she finds her in the office reading over some paper work deep in thought that she doesn't notice Haruka walk in until the blond pupil makes herself known.
"Ahem," Haruka pretends to clear her throat.
Slightly startled the music teacher looks up "Oh, Haruka I didn't hear you come in do you need something?"
"Yes ma'am, I wanted to talk to you about your daughter."
"Go ahead I'm listening," however the look on her face said she would rather not.
"First off I was wondering if you're aware of who I truly am and whether or not Michiru knows too."
"Yes, I know that you're Haruka Tenoh and no my daughter does not I would also wish to keep it that way if at all possible since you won't be staying here I'd like to spare her from being hurt as much as possible. She may me 5 yrs old but she is far from being a child she has been hurt enough and seen more than she should."
"Speaking of which she mentioned to me something about an accident and having a new mommy and being picked on, could you explain that to me, please."
Beyond shock the teacher looked as if she wasn't expecting to hear such a question as the one Haruka just asked.
"She told you about the accident?" wonders a very baffled mother
"Not in so many words, but she mentioned about having been to the doctors and about her 'new mommy' so I came to the conclusion she was adopted and I am just trying to learn more that is all." I also want to find out why she would be called a freak.
"Why are so curious Haruka?"
"Well I want to be her partner but more so I want to be her friend and I'm not exactly sure how, so I'm trying to learn about her cause I want to protect her. I too don't want to see her hurt and if I can I will spare her as much as possible," says a very serious Haruka as if though she is making an oath and swearing by it with her life.
Startled by the intensity of the words and look that the Haruka was giving her the teacher decided she should trust her. All too well she remembered talking to her daughter yesterday after school about Haruka.
(flashback)
Michiru's Home
"Michiru come eat dinner," yells Michiru mom.
Michiru walks into the room with a smile still on her face one that she's had since I came back to my office to talk to her and Haruka but she was alone and smiling. It seemed as if her smile would become permanent.
"Well munchkin it's just us two for tonight."
While eating dinner Michiru asks her mom "Do you think Haruka will like me and that she could come over sometime to play momma?"
"Michiru, sweetie I don't think you should get too attached to Haruka she may not turn out to be such a good friend. Why did you want to have her as a partner?"
"Cause she's special I know it and :::blushes::: I like her."
"She may hurt you, I still think you should be home schooled because I know how mean the kids can be to you."
"Momma it's okay I trust Haruka," says Michiru as if though nobody else in the world should try to say otherwise against her word.
(flashback ends)
Well if Michiru trusts you I guess I can too "Okay Haruka, but first I must ask you to swear that you will tell any of this to Michiru."
Haruka simply nods.
"To answer two of your questions yes Michiru was in an accident when she was two and yes she is adopted but in a sense she is my daughter and the kids bully her a lot cause of it."
Slightly confused by this Haruka had to ask "What do you mean how is your daughter at the same time if you adopted her?"
"Haruka how much do you know about homosexuality?"
"I know that is when two people of the same gender are in a relationship and most other people find it disgusting." What does this have to do with Michiru.
"What about you are like most other people?"
"Ma'am I don't see what this has to do with Michiru."
"Well you see I met Michiru's real-mother when we were in high school. She went away to college and met some guy. I continued to become a composer and lost contact with her. Then I met her again when I was asked to compose a song for a famous violinist. She liked my song so much that she wanted to meet me. That's when I met her again Megumi Kaioh. The guy she met left her recently for some up and coming model. I really liked Megumi a lot she told me she was pregnant and alone. I helped her through it all and we became close. After Michiru was born her mom went back to performing and we stayed together. I have been in Michiru'l life since she was born. 'Most other people' as you said find it disgusting. When she was two years old she got into a car accident with her mom I was at work when it happened. When the police looked into they found out the driver didn't like Michiru's mother for being with me. Her father was the largest bigot I ever met and responsible for killing Megumi. I took guardianship of her and she became my daughter. I changed my name and hair so we would not be in the public eye anymore. Once upon a time ago I was known in the classical world now I'm a teacher with a daughter and another life partner." finishes a now crying teacher. Who is amazed at how calm Haruka appears. I wonder if she understood everything.
Haruka simply says "I see." What startles Michiru's mom even more is next statement out of Haruka's mouth.
"She gets picked on cause you're in a relationship with another female and people are too narrow-minded to understand," now states a slightly angered Haruka.
Simply at a loss for words Michiru's mother nods.
Getting up to leave Haruka asks "what do your pupils call ma'am?"
"Miss Kaioh," upon seeing the surprise look on Haruka's face she decides to explain.
"I loved Megumi a lot and I did not want her to be forgotten, it's also part of the reason why Michiru decided to learn the violin and she is very gifted. So I changed my last name to Kaioh and left Michiru's as such. So does this mean you will be Michiru's partner?"
"Yes, well I have to go to class but before I go where is Michiru's class?"
"Just down the first hallway when you go into the building from the double doors to the end of this hallway."
"Thank you, see you later Miss Kaioh."
Since she has 15 minutes until the bell rings she decides to go see Michiru. Once arriving at her class she looks through the window in the door and sees the teacher is not there yet only a handful of students. One in particular is a silver haired boy picking on her friend without question she walks in causing all the students to look up. When they do Haruka sees the tears coming down Michiru's face and walks over to Michiru's desk and grabs her books.
"Come on Michiru we have to go see your mother," before Michiru could question Haruka she finds herself being helped up from her chair by her friend.
The silver haired boy starts again with the taunting "Aww the little freak has someone who talks to her; I bet she's just like her mother a freak."
This causes Haruka to turn around and reach over the desk, grab the silver-haired boy. Just as she was about to hit him Michiru grab her arm "Haruka DON'T, he's not worth you getting in trouble, and, and," before she realizes what she is doing Michiru hugs Haruka's waist and whispers while still crying "and neither am I."
Haruka just throws the boy on the floor really hard causing him cry. Just then the teacher walks in and sees this and asks "what's going on in here?"
"I came to get Michiru to go speak with her mother and when I walked in this boy here was being rude to my friend," while saying all this Haruka puts an arm around Michiru's waist and lets her continue to cry on her shirt.
"Still it gives you no right to bully kids smaller than you, who are you," asks the teacher.
"My name is Haruka I'm in Mr. James' class and you're going to let this boy get away with bullying and saying a harsh word to my friend," Haruka made sure to stress the my friend part.
"Oh," was all the teacher could say once she realized who Haruka was.
"Yaten Kou pick up their books and apologize to Michiru this minute for whatever it is you did or you will go to the office," says the teacher.
Followed by the ringing of the bell the other students walked in and Yaten apologized to Michiru just cause the teacher was in the room. As Haruka and Michiru started to walk out the room the teacher gave Haruka a note and asked that she give it to Miss Kaioh and said that she needn't go to Mr. James 1st class she would send him a note to excuse her absences.
They walked in silence to Miss Kaioh's office. Once they got there Miss Kaioh read the note which read:
"Miss Kaioh,
Michiru is excused from the morning half of class and so is Haruak Tenoh. She stood up for your daughter against Yaten Kou bullying. Sorry I'm not able to do anything.
-Mrs. James
Once she read the note she looked up at her daughter who was sitting on the couch with a tear-stained face while Haruka was still holding her. She couldn't help but let a small smile play on her face at the sight in front of her.
"Haruka you're both welcome to stay in here and practice if you wish. I'll go to the car and get Michiru's violin and see if Mr. James has a problem."
Haruka only nods her reply and Miss Kaioh leaves the two alone. Once her mother leaves Michiru starts with a fresh set of tears and buries her head into Haruka's chest again.
"Ssh, it's okay Michi I won't let anything bad happen as long as I'm around." I hope I can keep my promise.
"But you can't always be around. You'll get in trouble and I'm not worth that trouble please don't get in trouble cause of me Ruka."
"Where'd Ruka come from Michi?" asks Haruka with a smile on her face.
"I could ask you the same about Michi, but if you don't like it I won't call you it."
"It's okay I like it, besides I won't get in trouble trust me."
"I do."
"You're my friend and my only friend and I won't let you get hurt."
"You're my only friend too and I promise I will be your friend forever Ruka."
"Same here Michi, same here."
After about another 10 minutes pass Michiru's mom returns and two kids play for 30 minutes their respective instruments and then decide to take a break to go to the bathroom. On the way there they run into Yaten and an older boy who appears to be 12 years old.
"Brother that's her; she's the one that hurt me this morning."
Before anything happens Haruka looks down at Michiru and says in a whisper "Michi I want you to stay behind me and when I start walking I want you to run get your mom."
"okay, careful Ruka."
"So you hurt my brother, I'm going to have to teach you a lesson."
As Haruka starts to walk forward Michiru takes off running back down the hallway. Once Haruka sees she's around the corner she goes over to the boys and says "If you know what's good for you, you'll leave Michiru alone or else."
The eldest boy tries to punch Haruka and Yaten tries to kick her. She just jumps forward and lunges at the oldest knocking him down and kicking Yaten in the process. Just as she starts to punch him Yaten jumps on her back and puts her in a head lock while yelling "leave Taiki alone," this cause Haruka to lose her focus giving Taiki enough time to push her off him kick her in the stomach. Just as that happens the principal comes around the corner with Michiru.
He yells "Yaten, Taiki stop this minute," while running over to pull them off Haruka.
"Both of you to my office, right now! Haruka are you okay."
"Yes, sir I didn't start the fight they started," she says while getting her breathing under control and getting up with the support of Michiru.
"Michiru I want you to take her to the nurse's office and stay with her."
"Okay."
The principal leaves following the two Kou brothers hoping that Haruka's parents don't sue the school. As soon as he leaves Michiru hugs Haruka and to her surprise Haruka was hugging her back and rubbing her back trying to keep her calm.
"Oh Ruka this all my fault cause you're my friend, I think we shouldn't be friends after all."
"Michi you promised forever and I did too. I told you I'd be there for you so you wouldn't get hurt and I'm happy that you didn't."
"But YOU DID and friends aren't suppose get other friends hurt and I did."
"Michi, I'm okay honest." I have to figure out how to keep her safe, Kou I wonder if there the bastard sons of Hiroshi Kou
"Okay Ruka lets go to the nurse and see what she says." I hope that the Kou's don't cause trouble for you Ruka.
The started to walk to the nurse's office both of them deep in thought. Haruka is the first to voice her thoughts.
"Michi, do you know if the Kou's related to the business guy named Hiroshi Kou."
"I don't know but momma will all I know is that they have a lot of money and you hurt all the Kou brothers, first Seiya and now Yaten and Taiki because of me."
"I'd didn't do it just for you, I did it for me too I didn't like those boys anyway."
Once the nurse checks Haruka out she tells Michiru to wait outside and tell Haruka that she has to notify her parents and that only a bruise will show on Haruka stomach from being kicked.
"Nurse I beg you don't inform my parents if you do they will pull me from school and sue the school which will cost you a job along with a lot of other people do you want to be responsible for that."
"Well what are you going to do about the principal and the bruise?"
"Don't worry about that, I'll take care of it."
"Okay, I hope that you know your friend out there has been the subject of those boys torment since I have been here. They've hurt her a lot and she never says who but I've had my ideas."
"Don't worry it won't happen anymore, as long as I'm around." I swear it, I'm going to make them pay for hurting Michi.
On their way back to the auditorium they stop at the bathroom and then head back to the auditorium since they are both excused from class for the rest of the day. Once they get there Michiru's mom has to go to teach music down the hall.
"Michiru I'm glad you both are okay, you should know that the Kou's will be suspended for the rest of the week. I have to go you two. Oh, and let Katherine know I forgot to give you lunch money, I'll see you two in 2 hrs."
"okay, momma bye"
"Michi are the Kou's the only ones who pick on you?"
"No but they are the only ones who do it everyday, the others aren't as bad."
"I have an idea what if every morning you meet me here and don't go to class without me walking you, what time you come to school."
"Well since momma teaches she has to be here at 7:20 since school starts at 8:00."
"I will meet you here no later then 7:30; if I'm not coming to school I will call you to tell you. What about lunch when do you go?"
"We go first bell."
"I go second; I can meet you for lunch and get my work at the second one when you have to go back. Then we have our music time. Afterwards we each only have one class what do you do at the end of the day?"
"I come in here and wait for momma to finish for the day and go home, why."
"Well I get to leave early everyday so I will come to get you from class and wait with you because I have to wait to be picked up too. So what do you say?" Truth is I call the driver to pick me up when I am ready
"Okay, if you want to, but sometimes I go swim in the other schools gym." I hope you do so I can spend more time with you Ruka.
Just before the bell rings for lunch Haruka remembers Michiru didn't have lunch money, "Michi if you want I can buy you lunch today and whenever you forget lunch money."
"It's okay Ruka I just do like momma says and go tell Katherine you wanna come with me to meet her."
"Of course, but who is she."
"She's my new mommy I call her mom she's at the other school the middle school and that's why I go swimming there sometimes when she has to teach swim. She's a swim coach and the English teacher too."
"Okay but do you have to go today can I not buy you lunch this time."
"I guess I don't but you can't buy me lunch every time, deal."
"Deal."
As promised at the end of the day Haruka was there to pick Michiru up from class and waited with her until her mother was done for the day.
Wednesday:
Again as promised Haruka met Michiru first thing in the morning and walked her to class. They met for lunch which Haruka had worked it out with her teacher to be able to go early and get her work later. The only difference for today was that there were no Kou brothers to pick on Michiru and there wouldn't be for the rest of the week. During their music time they each played individual pieces to see what kind of mood they were in and then they would work on a duet that fit the mood. End of the day came and as promised Haruka was there again, she even started to carry Michiru's books or backpack sometime through out the day when they were together.
Thursday:
Passed very much like Wednesday. The only thing different was lunch. When lunchtime came Haruka surprised Michiru by getting her from class early. As they leave the class and head towards the cafeteria Haruka stops Michiru and asks her,
"Michi, do you trust me?"
"Yes Ruka."
"Okay I want you to close your eyes and give me your hand." Michiru does so without question.
"Now I'm going to take you somewhere for a surprise so no peeking, okay."
"Okay Ruka, but don't forget we still have to go to lunch."
"Don't worry we won't miss it."
As they walk outside Michiru feels a cooling breeze in the warm August weather followed by the lunch bell ringing and instead of going back, is lead for what seemed endless time to a shaded area she could tell by lack of sun on her face.
"Okay open your eyes."
Opening her eyes she sees a blanket spread out under a tree with a picnic basket.
"Wow, this is really, really nice did you do this all"
"I had help making the food and your momma brought the blanket and help me set this up before I went to get you."
"Why Ruka?"
"Cause I wanted to and the food in there is nasty cause you don't eat it all in there so I made stuff you like. At least I hope you do and we don't have to go back in until music class cause your mom wrote us both a note." I just want to spend as much time with you before those jerks come back to school and before you find out who I really am and stop being my friend
They enjoyed the rest of there lunch together along with music class and the end of the day.
Friday:
Another day passing very much same as the last two days did for the two friends. However, this time around Michiru left her lunch money at home and her momma was in a meeting. So when Haruka came around the corner and saw Michiru waiting outside her classroom door early she was surprised. Michiru to deep in thought to notice Haruka walk up until the blonde made herself known
"Michi are you in trouble."
"Huh, no I was just wondering when you would get here cause I have to go see my mom to get lunch money."
"How about I get your lunch today, so you don't have to go all the way to the middle school and have less time to eat and end up late for class."
"Nope, you got me lunch once and a picnic. Besides the teacher always let me come back late when I have to get lunch money from mom."
"Okay let's go then"
When they get to the middle school it twice the size of the elementary school and a two story one too. Haruka follows Michiru to the second story down a hallway to classroom on the end and stops right next to her as she knocks on the door.
"Come in" says someone from inside.
Upon entering the class room Haruka just follows Michiru over the desk where she sees a red-headed woman wavy/curly hair and a pair of reading glasses on looking at some paperwork while the rest of the class seems to be reading something in their text books.
"Hey munchkin did you forget your lunch money again" asks Katherine looking over at her 'daughter' while also glancing at the blonde following behind her. So this is the Haruka Tenoh I've heard so much about.
"Yep, sorry for bugging you in class again Mom."
"It's okay kiddo, class is she bugging us?"
As if it's been done many a times before the class chimes in together a collective bunch of "No's and Nope"
"See now let me give you some lunch money," she digs in her pocket and gives Michiru $5.00 bill.
As they are walked to the door Michiru turns to the class and says "Bye class."
Which reply "Bye Michiru."
Once outside in the hallway kneels down and gives Michiru hug and says "love you kiddo." Haruka meanwhile hasn't said a word and is watching the scene in front of her thinking: 'So this is what it means to have parents that care for you' with a sad look in her eyes that Katherine caught.
"Be sure you get Haruka and yourself a snack while you wait on your momma kay."
This snaps Haruka out of her reverie.
"Okay mom."
Then she reaches over and gives Haruka a hug and whispers in her ear "thank you for taking care of our little one."
After standing up she tells them both "be careful going back to over."
"Okay mom," says Michiru
"Sure thing miss uh-," replies Haruka while also nodding her head as if to let her know that she's welcomed.
"Katherine, and you should feel free to come by anytime you wish to practice at the house we have a piano and a pool so bring your suit."
"Okay, Miss Katherine I will." If my schedule permits me time to do so
"Does this mean she can come over this weekend mom, please," begs Michiru with a pout she knows her mom won't refuse.
"If Haruka's parents allow it and if your mother says it's okay, then I'm okay with it."
"Ruka can you come over." Please, please say yes
Seeing the apparent distress that Haruka was being put in. Katherine decides to help the child out. Knowing that Haruka isn't like normal children.
"Munchkin she has to go home today and ask her parents she might have something to do this weekend."
Haruka meanwhile doesn't know what to say and only nods her head.
"Okay," says Michiru with a sadden face.
"Michi don't worry I'll call home today before I come get you and ask okay." Haruka what are you thinking you can't this weekend there is a meeting, you idiot, arrrgh.
Michiru brightens up by that statement and the two head back for lunch. While walking back Haruka grabs Michiru's hand down the hallway which doesn't go unnoticed by Katherine who goes back into her classroom with a smile on her face.
The end of the day comes and Haruka hasn't shown up to get Michiru yet, so she decides to wait as she promised her friend hoping that Haruka can come over for the weekend. About 10 minutes later Haruka shows up around the corner with anything but a happy expression on her face. Michiru sees this and her face already falling losing hope that Haruka would be coming over for the weekend. Haruka sees Michiru's face and can already tell that she's not happy.
Authors Notes: Will there be a weekend to remember or not (drum roll) stay tuned to find out. This is the longest chapter I've written I don't think I can top it. But I might.
Thank you again for reading, if you have any confusion, suggestions, and questions let me know I will clarify. Send an e-mail or leave it in the review.
Andrea: Gracias tanto para leer mi historia. Visité catalina. Perdona mi español se me olvidado tanto por los años que no lo uze.
Papapapuffy: ask and you shall receive
TheWretchedOne: again thank you and enjoy…