Dedicated to anyone still reading after a few months of silence.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: That's right, I'm back in one piece. This story is about to do a bit of a jump and I wanted to apologize for that. In fact I think this chapter may not flow with the story quite as well as I'd like, and for that too I apologize. There are two main reasons behind this: 1) I left it for so long that I can't help but change the feel a bit. 2) I am not the same Haruka's Knight. Before you think I'm crazy just remember that we all change with experience, and I just had an interesting one. I honestly believe no one is ever exactly the same after any military training, regardless of length and format. With that said, please enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 16: The Way Things Go
2007
"If you were to ask me I'd say my life wasn't so bad, actually I've enjoyed being part of the military and I recently received a two rank promotion. Still, you'd think it was something to regret if you looked at those gathered here today. I guess you have different outlook from this side of things. Not like anyone is really listening to me, they can't anymore."
Rose Hills Cemetery was as calm and peaceful as ever. The southern Californian sun blazed brightly overhead, summer heat beating down upon the procession taking place. Still, the Army burial detail was unhindered as they showed their final respects to the departed soldier. The Chaplin, here as a personal favor, spoke calmly and reverently but most mourners had trouble focusing on anything but their own memories. In fact people didn't seem capable of speech until the casket was lowered and the twenty-one gun salute had ended.
It was as family, friends and battle buddies were approaching their cars that Master Sergeant Carson finally walked over to the young woman standing before the fresh grave. He stood silently beside her for what felt like an hour, both paying their respects with out intruding upon each other. The silence was only broken when he felt the young woman beside him needed to speak to someone.
"I'm sure she wouldn't want so many sad faces today, she never seemed to like that." Carson forced a smile and nodded toward the casket settling into its new home. The dark oak was covered in roses of different colors. "Actually I'm not so sure she'd be crazy about the roses either."
"Master Sergeant you don't know what it's like."
"What? You mean to watch your friends and co-workers deploy and risk death from behind a big chuck of wood?" This time Carson was amused at the look he received and couldn't help the sarcastic joke which escaped his lips. "No, you're right my desks are normally made of metal and plastic."
"What did she see in you?"
"I couldn't tell you as she never told me, what I can tell you sergeant Ten'ou is that she used to always tell jokes at the worst times." Carson's blue eyes looked again to the engraved headstone and the cold letters there. "First Sergeant B. Day, she actually out ranked me. You know we had a bet about who'd retire at a higher rank?"
"What are you getting to?" Haruka finally lost her cool; this was the fourth funeral she'd been to this year. She took a few deep breaths as her teal eyes looked up toward her superior and he just smiled kindly at her.
"You know why Day never returned to recruiting duty?" He asked, waiting until Haruka shook her head. "She said she'd hate to be stateside so long while people she trained with were at risk. She wanted to at least have a chance of saving a friend from being deployed away from their kids or spouse."
"How does this apply to me Master Sergeant?"
"She also said she felt bad for anyone with a non-deployable job, that she couldn't do twenty years in something like that." Carson looked toward the grass at his feet and shook his head. "Ten'ou, you should be hitting the end of your contract soon, maybe it's time to rethink this life."
"You think I should get out?"
"I think you should decide for yourself." Carson turned and sighed. "Maybe ask yourself the reasons why you joined, and if those are still enough. We aren't all lifers."
Michiru Kaioh sighed as she shut off the news. Over the last three years little had changed in the news. The world sometimes seemed to revolve around Iraq, and soldiers and civilians alike died there. Everyday she took to watching world news and listening for stories, sometimes wondering if that conflict would ever truly end.
"Kaioh-san!" A blonde poked her head around the door frame, smiling happily at the violinist as bright blue eyes met with deep blue. "Meiou-san said you were here somewhere!"
"Hello Minako-chan, I thought I told you to call me Michiru." The violin player tried to smile for her young friend. "What brings you out today?"
"Well a certain second lieutenant is flying in today and Makoto-san and I are trying to throw her a surprise party." Minako smiled sweetly and gave her best puppy dog eyes. "We were hoping her favorite musician might be nice enough to come."
"Don't say yes, the American will think that stupid look got her what she wanted." Rei rounded the corner and glared at Minako with a hint of amusement hidden behind her dark eyes. "Did you even greet her before you asked her a favor?"
"Of course I did, I think." Minako paused and looked sheepish before turning to bow to Michiru. "Gomen Michiru-san, I didn't mean to be rude."
"You aren't Minako-chan." Michiru smiled brightly this time, happy to see the two young women. "And I'd be happy to come."
"Yes!" Minako turned to Rei and formed the fingers of her right hand into a victory sign. "I told you she'd say yes."
"Probably out of pity, after all someone has to provide intelligent conversation for Anderson-san."
"Hey!" Minako started to glare then paused and grinned before poking Rei in the ribs with her index finger. "You're going to be there too, I guess that means you aren't intelligent conversation."
"What makes you think I'm coming? I hardly even know Lieutenant Anderson?"
"Yes but you do know and love me." Minako smirked evilly toward her girlfriend of three years. "In fact I seem to remember last night . . ."
"Alright!" Rei quickly placed a hand over the blonde's lips and smiled to Michiru. "Alright I'll go."
"I thought you'd see it my way kio." Minako pulled Rei's hand away and winked at Michiru. "See you at about seven Michiru-san. You know how to get to Makoto-san's apartment don't you?"
Makoto's apartment was dark and nearly silent, aside from Usagi trying hard to suppress giggles from behind a couch and Mamoru whispering for her to calm down. Michiru sighed from her position, kneeling behind an arm chair and waiting. They'd all hidden when Mamoru had spotted the brunette's car pulling up to the complex, but no one had thought to actually wait for the guest of honor and hostess to at least get out. No, instead here they were, as they had been five minutes before.
"It's just over here." Makoto's muffled voice floated through the front door and Usagi's giggling seemed to increase. Mamoru went silent and everyone, Usagi excluded, seemed to hold their breath for a moment's time.
The door handle jiggled and something dropped, followed by Makoto letting a quiet cruse slip. A bit of shuffling was heard before the handle jiggled again and the door swung open, allowing a small shaft of light into the living room but still leaving the party goers in shadowy hiding spaces, concealed from the figure which first entered. A click was heard and the world seemed to flood with light as the ceiling light came on.
"SURPRISE!" Michiru, Mamoru, Rei, Minako and Usagi all jumped, stood or popped up from their hiding places. Dazzled as her eyes were from the sudden light Michiru couldn't see the young women that entered even as she heard Minako squeal. The long ago discharged soldier's eyes had adjusted it seemed as she darted past Michiru across the room and tackled someone to the ground.
"The guest of honor isn't supposed to bring a surprise!" Minako complained as Michiru was blinking her vision back into existence. She could just make out a figure, Minako straddling their legs as they rubbed their hooded head, sprawled on the carpeted floor.
"I wasn't aware anyone was here, in fact I thought I turned down the offer of a party." Amy glanced toward Makoto, the brilliant rank insignia on her formal uniform causing another dazzling little light effect which distracted all eyes in the room. Still Michiru had a nagging feeling, something which pulled her deep blue eyes back to the figure prone on the floor.
"Ten'ou!" Minako happily exclaimed the blonde's name even as Haruka winced from the volume. Her teal eyes had just tracked on the last figure in the room, standing behind an arm chair seeming confused. Or she had looked confused until Haruka's name was spoken, now she was just outright pale and the violin case in her hands dropped lightly to the floor.
"We found her at the airport so I guess this can be a double welcome party." Makoto spoke with what sounded like sheepish amusement in her voice, rubbing the back of her neck. Still Haruka's teal eyes didn't leave the young woman with the wavy sea-like hair and deep blue eyes.
"Excuse me for a moment, please." Michiru bowed toward Makoto and Amy before she made her way out into the hall, leaving her violin and a room full of still confused people behind her.
"Michiru." Haruka tried to call her name but the violin player was already out in the hall. The tall blonde sighed then looked up toward her former roommate. "I'm glad to see you again too, Aino."
"Yeah, you love me I know." Minako smirked as Rei offered her a hand off the taller blonde. Once she was on her feet she waited for Haruka to stand and pointed at the door. "Go talk to her."
"What makes you think I want to?" Haruka grumbled, still rubbing a sore spot on her head as she pulled the hood of her pull over down. The younger blonde glared at her and reached up to lightly smack the spot, causing Haruka to jump away. "What was that for?"
"You know what they say, Cease the hour!"
"You mean cease the day?" Makoto offered as helpfully as possible and Minako sighed.
"I hate sayings; I never seem to get them right." She then shook her head and pushed Haruka toward the door. "Go out there before I ask Makoto-san and Rei to kick you out."
Michiru tried to ignore it when the door to the stair well opened; she'd hoped no one would find her there on the landing. A silent figure took a seat next to her, leaving just enough space not to take away from Michiru's personal bubble but still close enough that blue eyes could just make out the tall blonde figure. Michiru glanced to her left and took in the blonde she hadn't seen in a number of years.
Haruka's hair was grown out just a bit and seemed to have a wind blown appearance as if she'd run a great distance. Her hooded sweater was at least a size to big, navy blue with a Nike symbol across the front and made of fuzzy material. The collar of a black t-shirt was just visible near her hood, and Haruka's hands were buried in the front pocket of the sweater. She wore a pair of black Dickies, and some old faded blue sneakers that looked to have seen a few hard miles at least. But the one thing Michiru didn't see was any sign of the military uniform she'd last seen the tall blonde in.
"I'm actually glad I ran into you tonight, it saves having to search every concert hall in Japan." Haruka tried to joke, finding that Michiru's gaze averted toward the wall on her right instead. Haruka sighed and fell silent again.
"What would you do if I hadn't been in Japan at all?" Michiru finally asked.
"Search Europe." Haruka replied as a ghost of a teasing smile came back to her lips while Michiru nodded silently and leaned lightly against her. Another moment of silence enveloped them only to broken when Michiru spoke again.
"And if I wasn't in Europe?"
"Then I'd have ended up searching the rest of Asia."
"Careful Ten'ou Haruka, someone might think I was important to you." Michiru warned, closing her eyes with an expression somewhere between indifference and disappointment.
"I deserved that, and that was close to what I said before I left." Haruka growled lightly, frustrated with her own past actions. "I wanted to apologize for that so many times, it wasn't meant the way it sounded."
"You didn't write or try to contact me."
"I was, never mind there isn't a good reason for that either." Teal eyes closed and Haruka rubbed the bridge of her nose lightly with the fingers of one hand. So far this wasn't going well at all. "Do I get credit for the thought at least?"
"I'll think about it." Michiru commented, knowing Haruka couldn't see the amused smile that was beginning to creep across her lips. "Maybe I'll let you know in a few years specialist."
"Actually it's Sergeant now, and the title really isn't necessary." Haruka calmly spoke, eyes still closed. "I doubt whatever job I find that they'll be calling me Sergeant anymore."
"What?" Michiru sat up as she thought that over, causing the blonde's eyes to snap open. Again Haruka smirked, this time in a very tired manner.
"The US Army is looking for a new piano player, not that they don't have a number of them."
"So you aren't being stationed in Japan again?"
"Nope, but I am looking for an apartment." Haruka tried not to grin too widely as she spoke her next few words. "You see I recently spoke to an old friend and it left me thinking. The Army showed me a lot of things, and I had the chance to see a lot of places I'd never seen. But through out the last few years there was one thing the Army just couldn't make me stop regretting."
"What's that, Ten'ou-san?" Michiru asked, looking at Haruka curiously even as she was fighting a bit of excitement that was trying to build inside her.
"Not doing this instead of putting my foot in my mouth that night." Haruka didn't wait to get asked what, instead she leaned over and kissed Michiru lightly and shyly. It'd been years since the elevator and she had no way to know how the young woman would react. The blonde was nervous, hoping not to be slapped and also hoping not to be rejected. She wasn't sure what would come next.
"That was very rude Ten'ou-san." Michiru whispered as they parted. The violin player smiled as light seemed to dance in her eyes, their faces still a mere inch apart.
"I'm sorry Kaioh-san." Teal eyes searched blue, unsure what to do next.
"You should be." Michiru leaned toward her ear and spoke softly. "You haven't even so much as asked me out, Haruka."
"I haven't?" Haruka leaned back and forced a fake look of shock onto her face. "I can't see how that happened; something must have distracted me from speech."
"Just ask."
"Am I forgiven?" Haruka turned serious in a moment's time, gazing at Michiru with apologetic teal eyes.
"I wasn't mad, but I was disappointed." Michiru turned her face toward the wall again but a gentle hand brought it back. Haruka kissed her forehead this time.
"Then please let me have the chance to make it up to you." Haruka spoke softly. "We can see where this goes, no military laws anymore. No more running off to get my roommate from a night club and no more transferring out of the country to hide."
"Convince me." Michiru said playfully before she tugged Haruka forward by the collar and kissed the blonde again. Haruka deepened the kiss and gave up on conversation, thankful beyond words that the young violin player was willing to so easily let the past go.
"So do you think Ten'ou got kicked out too?" Minako asked, sitting next to Rei on the couch. Amy was discussing some form of medicine with Mamoru as Usagi wandered behind Makoto into the apartment's kitchen. Rei rolled dark and bored eyes toward her girl friend.
"I doubt it; she was always smarter than you." Rei smirked at the now irate blonde next to her. "For one she didn't go out and pick up girls at her first duty station only to get caught by her own commander."
"Wow, I was wondering how you'd ended up out Aino." They looked up as Haruka entered the apartment again, Michiru following her a second later. Minako noted they were holding hands, at least until Michiru walked over to the arm chair to retrieve her violin.
"She didn't say the best part!" Minako grinned and ducked as her girlfriend tried to silence her. She smiled toward her former roommate and spoke again. "I came to Subspace at her request after we'd had an argument and broken up. The C.O. happened to be there that night when the female voice of the DJ came over the public announcement system."
"I don't get it." Haruka had a clearly puzzled look even as Rei finally managed to get a hand over Minako's lips, her own face turning red.
"Rei-san announced to the entire nightclub how much she loved her girl friend Minako Aino and wanted her back." Mamoru smiled as he filled in the blanks for Haruka. "In English and Japanese. Your old commander nearly choked on his drink and poor Minako-chan happened to be standing next to him ordering a drink at the time. She dropped her glass, saluted the man, than ran for the DJ booth while he blinked."
"How long did it take for them to kick you out?" Haruka asked, trying not to laugh while Rei glared at Mamoru.
"The commander pulled some strings to be nice to me, but I was on Rei's doorstep a month later." Minako smiled and leaned against the disgruntled former DJ.
"And I haven't been able to get rid of her since."
"You love me and so does Grandpa." Minako stuck her tongue out and Rei rolled her eyes.
"Egotist."
"So then you're the only one left in." Haruka commented, looking at the young doctor standing by Mamoru. Amy smiled gently and nodded shyly. "Are you going to go for retirement?"
"I don't know." The young woman looked toward her feet, never having been comfortable with being the center of attention. "I might try to start my own practice in three years."
"Foods here." Makoto announced, coming out of the kitchen with some expertly balanced trays covered in food. Haruka smirked, walking over and wrapping her arms around Michiru's waist as the other's gathered around the food. Blue eyes looked up at her as Michiru leaned back into her arms.
"Thank you for the second chance." Haruka whispered.
"It's just a rain check really." Michiru smiled and spoke again. "And I think Setsuna wouldn't mind having another roommate for a while."
"The club owner?"
"Yes, club owner and my best friend." Michiru stepped away then tugged Haruka toward the food. "You have to try Makoto-chan's cooking."
The tall blonde came willingly, noticing things felt calm here. Maybe she'd never forget the friend's she'd lost, or stop writing to the ones stationed around the world, but she'd didn't feel the same way. She didn't feel almost guilty for the job she had, or for spending her time entertaining at balls while someone she trained in BASIC with was somewhere sleeping on a cot. Maybe, just maybe she'd leave that feeling behind for good.
Michiru popped some type of food in the blonde's mouth Haruka focused on the here and now. She focused on smiling blue eyes and the small group of people she barely knew. This was just the next chapter in life.
Author's Note:
Sorry if that seemed to leave a large gap in the story or if Michiru seemed to give too easily. I've actually been trying to write this chapter since September but I couldn't force it, finally tonight the idea wanted to come out of my head. Yes this is the final chapter, though I haven't decided if I want to revise the chapters later. If I do though, it'd probably just be to add the final conversation of the previous chapter.
I hope you enjoyed this story and I'm sorry it took me so long with so many pauses.
Please take care,
Haruka's Knight
PS
Remember, reviews are a great way to motivate people.