AN: This is a small chapter that follows the others instead of Haruka.
Chapter 10: Where we left off
A knock on the door woke Michiru to Saturday morning light and she blinked as it blinded her for a moment. She was still sitting groggily in bed as she heard the front door to her apartment open. She knew who it was, unless someone had decided to rob her apartment mid-day. A shuffling sounded in the living room and Michiru slowly climbed out of bed and grabbed a robe at the end of her bed. She looked around for her slippers when a head popped through her bedroom door.
"I came by to make sure my best friend was okay." Setsuna spoke as Michiru looked up at her and the older woman smiled a bit. She held a black bomber in her hand with a raised eyebrow. "Does this have to do with why you didn't say anything before you left, Michiru-san?"
"I'm sorry Setsuna-san, I wasn't thinking." Michiru sat on the end of her bed and accepted the jacket as it was handed to her. Setsuna sat down as well and Michiru sighed. "I ran in to someone and they were so worried about something that I didn't think."
"Ten'ou-san finally returned then?" Setsuna smirked at the surprised look she was treated to. "Chiba-kun mentioned that you'd been looking for him every night. He also said Ten'ou-san looked almost completely different, something about a black jacket and camouflage pants."
"Ten'ou-san is a US soldier, and he is a she." Michiru said and felt slight justification as Setsuna seemed to just pause, things running again through her mind. Michiru smiled outright when Setsuna started to hold up a hand at Haruka's rough height.
"Well, she's a bit tall and the way she dressed I'd never guess." Setsuna commented at the smile Michiru was giving her than raised an eyebrow again. She adopted a warning tone and wagged a finger at the younger woman. "And you should know that while you may be bi-sexual the US military is infamous for intolerance of homosexuality."
"What do you mean?" Michiru asked as she looked back down at the jacket in her hands. "I only want to get to know her, Sets."
"Just be careful, if Ten'ou-san is military most likely so was Aino-chan. I studied in the US and a friend of mine did a term paper about deaths of soldiers found to be homosexual. If I remember correctly they put a whole new set of procedures into their military law because of it." Setsuna thought for a moment before she spoke again. "In fact, I think I remember a translator that lost their job due to those laws."
"Meiou-san, I am only interested in getting to know the woman." Michiru said as firmly as she could manage. "I never even hinted at having feelings for her, I don't even know her."
"So you don't think she's attractive?" Setsuna questioned her friend.
"Do you?" Michiru threw back only to get a laugh from the club owner. "What did I say this time?"
"You know I'm straight, beside I go more for the typical tall dark and handsome type." Setsuna explained as she stood and turned toward the door.
"Like Chiba-san?" Michiru asked, bringing up the young bartender and causing Setsuna to almost freeze but not quite.
"Chiba-kun is an employee, and if he were not Usagi-chan is far too nice a young woman for me to ever want to see her sad." Setsuna shook her head and gestured toward Michiru's bathroom. "If you get cleaned up I'll take you to breakfast this morning, then perhaps you can pick up your car from my club."
"Thank you, Setsuna." Michiru smiled and turned away from her oldest friend toward the bathroom. Setsuna was more like an older sister almost since the day the two meet, watching out for Michiru since they were children. It was even Setsuna who taken her in for a few years after her parents had died.
"Ten'ou, Aino are you here?" A voice called as the door opened slightly. Minako looked up from the magazine she was reading, or rather the model she was gazing at this time, to find Amy looking into the room timidly. Minako smiled and stood to bound over to the young medic.
"Hey there Anderson, Ten'ou took off with out much explanation but I'd be happy to help you." Minako was nearly speaking too fast for the other young woman and Amy blinked for a few moments before smiling. Minako waved her inside and the medic took a seat on the desk chair between the two bunks. Minako plopped back onto her own bunk and grinned happily. "What can I do for you today, Specialist Anderson?"
"Well, I was hoping to go off base to a local book store but I really don't know the area…" Amy started and Minako looked surprised.
"You mean you can read Japanese?"
"Oh yes, actually I read and speak it fluently. When I was in high school I took some classes at the local community college each summer." Amy paused at Minako's look and smiled at the blonde again. "I take it you haven't had much luck with Ten'ou helping you."
"She kind of just submerges me into it; I don't think she'd make a very good teacher." Minako paused and looked at Amy with a serious look and a small amount of confusion in her blue eyes. "What langue do you think she uses in her mind? I mean my English teacher once said we all tend to think in one langue, but Ten'ou is kind of good with both."
"I think you would have to ask her." Amy smiled in amusement. "However, if you'd like help from someone else I could give you lessons once a week. I was a tutor before I enlisted."
"You must be really smart, I mean we're the same age and you already have some college while I came here straight out of high school." Minako stood, brushing green wool lint from her black cargo pants and black tank top before she looked around for her small white jean jacket. "If you're going to help me with my Japanese then I'll be happy to help you find a bookstore."
"Thank you, Aino." Amy said as she too stood, still in uniform. Minako grinned and Amy excused herself to change.
The trip into Tokyo landed them at a mall full of different stores. After spending over an hour in a large book store the two emerged with two bags. One held different books of Amy's choice; one romance novel, medical journals, a science book Minako didn't understand and a number of books about the human anatomy. The second bag was for Minako's sake. Inside were several books about the written Japanese langue, a few children's books that taught you how to draw some of the simpler characters, and some magazine's Amy hoped would encourage the blonde to learn to read the langue. They even bought a CD you play in your sleep to help you learn the langue, though neither was sure if it really worked.
"Hey Anderson, have you ever been to a violin concert?" Minako asked as they were wandering down the malls white tile floors. Amy looked up for a moment from the book she was reading and paused to answer.
"Not a violin solo, but I have been to a number of classical concerts. Why do you ask, Aino?"
"Well, uh, they dress nicely right?" Minako didn't notice Amy pause until she was three paces ahead. She stopped and looked back into inquiring blue eyes and sighed. "Ten'ou was given two tickets to a violin concert and the person who gave them to her wanted me to go too."
"Well, normally you dress formally." Amy closed her book and seemed to be thinking. "Who gave you the tickets, and who is it that's giving the performance?"
"Uh, I think her name is Kaioh Michiru and she gave Ten'ou the tickets herself." Minako paused as Amy's eyes went wide and she became confused when the normally shy woman pulled her along until they reached a dress shop. "Hey, what did I say?"
"First, the tickets given to the performer are usually extremely good seats." Amy explained and ushered Minako into the shop before finishing the explanation. "Meaning that you'll be very close to the stage. Secondly, Kaioh Michiru is a rising star in the classical world. I've been trying to get tickets for her concert online but they were sold out."
"Classical sells out?" Minako asked in confusion as another young woman about their age approached. She stopped and cleared her throat, causing the two to look over and find a strangely tall young woman with brown hair pulled into a high pony-tail. She wore black slacks and a green dress shirt, a name tag reading Makoto was pinned to her shirt.
Can I help you two with anything? She asked kindly and Minako grinned as she realized they'd already met. At a lack of ability to speak the langue properly she poked Amy, who seemed to have frozen when the woman spoke.
"She's a friend Anderson, we met in a club." Minako waved a hand at Makoto, who waited patently for the two to finish. "This is the girl that helped Ten'ou during the fight."
"Oh, well it seems it is a small world." Amy said, still a bit fazed it seemed. She jumped when Minako poked her again, nearly falling until Makoto caught her and helped her right herself.
"No Disney quotes Anderson." Minako said, grinning happily at Makoto who was watching them both. Amy turned bright red as she thought what the young woman must think of the two soldiers.
Thank you, and actually we're looking for a dress for Aino-san. Amy finally managed and Makoto smiled.
Is that why she keeps poking you? Makoto asked with a friendly smile and Amy turned a darker shade of red. Makoto laughed a little and held up her hands in a placating manner. Don't worry, I was only joking. I'm Kino Makoto and I'll be happy to help you two out, though I would like to know how Ten'ou-san is.
Ten'ou-san is fine, the head wound wasn't very bad and it's healed completely. Amy smiled and nodded toward Minako again, the blonde was looking back and forth as they spoke and seemed lost. Aino-san says that you helped her.
I didn't do much, I just didn't agree with those guys dragging Aino-san out against her will. Makoto turned and looked Minako over for a moment before looking back toward Amy. Are you another roommate?
No, but we live in the same building. Amy answered cryptically and received a sober nod before Makoto smiled again.
So, what kind of dress are you two looking for?
"What did she say?" Minako finally asked, exasperated that she couldn't understand most of the conversation.
"What kind of dress we are looking for." Amy replied as she looked again toward the blonde. "What color do you like by the way?"
"Um orange, but do they make orange formal dresses?" Minako said and Amy fought a small laugh as she turned back to Makoto.
We need a formal dress, or at least semi-formal. Aino-san is going to see a classical concert. She was wondering if you've seen any orange dresses that might work? Amy translated.
I think we might have one but she should go try it on. If it works I can get her measurements and have it adjusted. Makoto said as she led the two toward a set of changing rooms and indicated some chairs. Wait here and I'll bring it to you.
Haruka looked up that night when Minako walked in and raised a brow at the other blonde from where she was sweeping the floor. Minako grinned and indicated a corner that still had dust in it, receiving a playful glare for her effort. Minako walked over to her bunk and started to untie her shoes as Haruka swept the small pile of dust into a dust bin and threw it out.
"So, where did you take off to anyway?" Minako asked as she opened her bag from the book store and started reaching for a magazine. Haruka held up a suit bag as way of answer and Minako grinned. "So I take it that means you'll be as tomboyish as ever, Ten'ou?"
"Did you really expect any different?" Haruka said as she carefully placed the suit bag in her wall locker. "What were you up to?"
"Anderson wanted to go to a bookstore, and then she informed me these concerts are normally formal or at least semi-formal so we went to get a dress." Minako said, emphasizing the word informed.
"Sorry, it slipped my mind that you'd never been to one." Haruka said as she picked up a folder full of sheet music and sat down before the wooden desk. "I'm used to it from playing piano."
"So why didn't you just go in dress uniform?" Minako teased and Haruka glanced at her.
"You know they prefer we aren't obvious off post."
"And last night in combats was such a good example of that." Minako teased again, this time drawing a sigh and the taller blonde's attention. "Did I miss something?"
"Well, Michiru kind of knows we're soldiers now." Haruka said haltingly and caused Minako to raise a brow. From the look on Haruka's face she was expecting a lecture or something; instead she got an evil grin.
"I could be wrong, but isn't it a sign of familiarity to call someone here by their first name?" Minako grinned and prodded the piano player again. "You don't even call me by my first name. Do you even remember my first name?"
"Of course I do!" Haruka defended and paused. She hung her head after a minute and spoke in a low voice. "I'm just a bit out of it today, but I know it starts with an M."
"Minako, I am Minako Aino." Minako was enjoying messing with the taller woman since Haruka was normally on top of things. "I know your name, Haruka Ten'ou and you live in California."
"I used to live in California; I'm not sure when I'll be back." Haruka corrected and turned back to the sheet music. Minako watched as she started to run through what had to be fingerings on the desk and shook her head. It wasn't like they could keep a piano in the barracks.
"Well I'm going to hit the showers, have fun with the homework Specialist Ten'ou."
Author's Note:
For some reason I wanted to make Haruka a corporal, but that would make her a None Commissioned Officer. I'm reasonably sure NCOs don't generally share their barracks rooms with enlisted so I left her equal rank to Amy. Poor Minako is low man on the pole here.
Okay, sorry this is so short and didn't focus on the normal character. I had a bit of a problem with a friend this week and ever since I can't seem to keep my thoughts straight.
Thank you for the reviews, since I got more than the last time I'll do some responses tonight. Here goes:
Secondary Note:
I'm sorry this took so long, in fact this chapter has been waiting on a hard drive for about … Well, for a least a about two months. I want to say thank you to all those still reading, and again sorry for the long wait.