Authors Notes:
This chapter had been written ahead of time but edited heavily.. And I know by the end of it you will want to strangle me. :looks around gulping:It pleases me so much to see how involved you all are getting with my story. It means I am really doing my job as a writer. I like telling a story, its more like a play. I don't want you to just read it, I want you all to feel it. Then I know I have successfully communicated, and to be part of something as huge as that, makes me feel wonderful. D
It makes me so happy knowing you guys are going out of the way to listen to the same songs that I do when I write it. Music is a huge inspiration for me. )
For this chapter I listened to 'Sad exchange' by finger 11, Linkin park, and Avril Lavienge. (Sorry spelling)
I know I keep saying that I'll get to 'happier' parts, but I keep writing more and it bumps all the ideas down further along lol.
Btw, this is becoming so long, that it is nearly a novella by now. Im at 45 thousand words (and counting).
Luckily my girlfriend was here this time to laugh with me at my old ideas and my lack of continuity. Luckily I had revisited with her some previous chapters so you'll see things begin to tie together.
I'm aiming to end this story with chapter 12. Because 12 is so much better then 13. Lol.
Thank you to all of my readers, for your praise and encouragement. It is you that inspires me to continue to write. This chapter may seem thick and intense, but this is the last of Morgan, and I think you will like this chapter. :mysterious smile: Anyway, keep with me as always.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

The Last sip is always Bittersweet: Part II

It was getting cold out. The moon was high in the sky now. Michiru could see her breath and shivered muttering. Good for nothing Haruka, knight in shining armor she was not. Anything she did for Michiru, was retracted now. All she wanted was to get home, into her own bed and forget all of this.

Soon, she'll be gone anyway. Tomorrow, she had decided, was her last day at the alley. What was she doing here? What had she hoped to accomplish?

Her parents, as always, were right.

And it looked like she would get to say goodbye to her coworkers after all. She batted away hot tears every once in awhile and hugged her arms closer to her body. She should have taken a jacket; Haruka wouldn't have noticed.

She wondered if Haruka was making up with Morgan right then.

Michiru clutched at her chest, as if trying to stop the bleeding of an invisible gaping wound, and pressed on.

- -

Haruka cursed herself up and down the whole drive back through artist alley and into the city. Morgan cut her off, seemingly forever. Haruka had been done with her. Why did she feel responsibility; why did she apologize? Why was she running to the rescue?

And what right did Michi-.. Kaiou san,have to correct her anyway; like a jealous lover? Whatever impression that girl had gotten through out the night was her own, and it had nothing to do herself...

Haruka slammed on the brakes suddenly nearly running into the car ahead of her and swore again. That's why she should be paying attention when she drove. As the chorus of angry horns and rude gestures sped past her, Haruka coolly changed gears, and sped past and through them all again. Probably breaking ten different traffic rules, Haruka didn't care anymore. She drove like the racer she had been trained to be, and felt like the ice coated person she had forced herself to be.

She glanced at the road signs trying to find the street Morgan was 'trapped' on. She had a cell phone, couldn't she call for a tow herself; a taxi even? Michiru's words rung in her head, and Haruka sped up more.

Was she really being a fool?

There; She could spot Morgan from a distance, her red hair was so vibrant. Haruka bit her lip and pulled into the street bracing herself like a wolf with bristled fur. She slowed down beside the car, and Morgan looked over to her with pouting lips and mascara smudged eyes. Although normally a hellcat, Morgan had a way of seeming so helpless and... beautifully distressed.

"God, I thought you'd never come!" She said, her eyes tearing. "I was so scared, Haruka!"

Haruka sighed idling the car, and rolled down the window more, not wanting to jump out all at once and rush in like she always did. But that's what Morgan had wanted, for her eye brows creased and she glared now.

"What took you? Don't you even care that I've been stranded for hours on end-."

"Not hours; minutes. I came as soon as you called." Haruka calmly corrected feeling so tired. She fought the urge to rub her pounding temples and wondered distractedly why she liked this exchange.

"Did you call a tow?.." Haruka managed to ask, glancing at the clock and wondering who would come at this hour. Morgan stared at the street angrily before digging through her fake skinned purse for god knew what.

"No, I didn't- That's a man's job." The way she said it, so sweetly and catty, made Haruka's jaw clench uncomfortably.

She put the car into park and stepped out, needing to avoid that remark for now. The pain and harshness of it was too much to accept. Morgan stood dismally and uninterested at her side, while Haruka put the hood up. And when she began to search for the problem, Morgan was happy non the less that Haruka was fretting on her behalf.

Seeing no problem at all, Haruka numbly opened the driver's door and turned the key. In utter disbelief the engine roared into life, without pause. Haruka felt a slow trickle of realization pour over her face and neck. Morgan didn't seem phased by being figured out, but a little annoyed. She waved off Haruka's angry look dismissively.

"What? Don't ask me. I don't know cars. Maybe it was just a fluke."

Haruka closed her eyes before slamming the door and the hood, walking over to her car again.

"You don't believe me?.. What are you just going to leave? What if the car breaks down again?"

"Morgan.." Haruka began absolutely exasperated.

She looked over at the woman, who seemed so strong now in her stiletto heels and city suit and skirt. In some way, it seemed that she was enjoying Haruka's phases of hurt, pain and rage.

"Then call a tow, call a taxi and go home yourself." Haruka got into the car, starting the engine.

"You think you're so strong. So perfect. Well you're not." Morgan spat quietly against Haruka's ear. She leaned down against the car frame and smiled.

Why couldn't Haruka put up the window? Why couldn't she pull off right now. Why-

"I'm pregnant."

Haruka's eyes widened and she felt as though she had been punched in the stomach. She struggled to breathe.

"I thought you didn't want children.." Her voice was far away and her mouth was dry.

Why was Morgan so cruel?

"I don't." She answered just as sweet, her lips curling into a soft smile.

"I just wanted to experience what real men could do, Tenou kun."

Haruka swallowed and looked to her, all of her pain seemed so much, it seared within her like a vicious ache and was replaced with detachment and utter exhaustion. It the middle of this chaos, one smiling face came to her mind. Kaiou san.

"I see." Haruka smiled a little and changed the gear from 'park' to 'drive'.

"Well Morgan, that's great news. Because after we split, I've had the pleasure of experiencing what a real woman was like." Haruka smiled, the pain lifting just a bit seeing the surprised unsettled look on Morgan's face.

"Yeah, so It's getting late, I gotta go. Could you please remove me from your life. Because I'm done."

Morgan stood utterly startled. "Oh..Okay."

"By the way, I hope you still remember the name of the father, because I won't be coming back when you call anymore." Haruka put up the window and pressed the gas, leaving Morgan in the wake of her exhaust.

Haruka didn't know where she should go now; feeling dizzy and slightly elated.

It was the kind of excited exhaustion that made her body shaky and her mind unstable. So she just kept going straight, unconsciously being pulled back toward the alley.

- -

Michiru wondered how long she had been walking; her legs began to ache.

Still, she needed to keep going and she couldn't turn back. By the light of the occasional passing car, she spotted with relief the fork in the highway, knowing that the slightest glimmer of the park just outside the alley, would be in the distance.

She missed Monsieur; His warm purring body beside her while she slept. She missed Lady Anigusta; the only motherly figure she had out here and her advice.

Michiru quickened her pace wondering if she could go through with leaving, but knowing it was for best. She closed her eyes briefly, missing someone so much it hurt. A face came to her mind, the shadowy masculine face from her dreams. Michiru let out a soft sob. That person was dead now.

Even if her apartment was empty, she longed for it. Even if the silence and chill of the sheets made her feel so empty.

Car lights turned the corner and blinded her up ahead. She put her hands up and walked more onto the side of the road, not really wanting to get hit tonight as well. After a moment she slowed watching, wondering why the car stopped. Dread filled her and made her pulse quicken. Why were they just sitting there like that? Michiru cursed, afraid it was some crazy person looking for a vulnerable girl. Would this night ever end?

She decided to sprint the rest of the way to the park and began to run.

- -

Haruka had begun the turn to go into the beginnings of the route back to the house, her wounds licked now. She felt bad for what she had said and hoped Michiru would let her take her home in the morning. That girl didn't deserve to be manipulated by Haruka; in that way she had been no better then Morgan. She had to apologize again, and hope the girl could forget all about her and move on. It was for her own good that Haruka let her go. A small voice objected in the back of her mind.

'She just wanted love.'

Without thinking about it, Haruka slid her hand into her pants pocket and among some sand, her fingers closed around the small little clam shell Michiru had found and plucked out among the surf. Her thumb stroked the smooth interior, unconsciously. This was the shell Michiru had given her just that morning; had it really been that morning? So much had happened, it seemed impossible. What were the words Michiru had said about it? That if you wished for a mermaid, to hold the shell and toss it into the ocean and surely one would come. Well, there was no ocean here, but a small, growing part of Haruka wished for her keshou.

She had wished so badly for a second chance; to make it right. She held the shell so tightly in her palm that its tiny ridged surface begun to leave indentations in her skin.

As she thought it over, some movement up ahead caught her attention and she stopped the car, thinking it was a deer or some other nightly animal.

To her dismay it was Michiru.

"What the hell is she doing?"

She turned the car a bit so the lights would brighten the dark, so she could be sure.

It was Michiru; and she was running.

"Hey!" Haruka swore and backed up turning the steering wheel a bit to straighten out and turned drifting to the other lane to drive alongside Michiru. Leaning over, Haruka rolled down the window.

"Did you walk all this way? Are you nuts?"

- -

"Tenou kun?" Michiru called out, surprise and embarrassment making her face burn. She was glad that only the hazard lights flashing on and off would seem to be the cause of colouring her skin red.

She watched Haruka get out of the car, the wind whipping at her hair.

How could she have found her in the night like this? Michiru had walked far enough; in fact she hardly had any idea where she was. It didn't matter. Michiru kept on walking regardless.

Haruka swore and got back into the car, driving beside her again, while Michiru stalked off.

"Just where do you think you're going?" Her voice raising from frustration.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that, fly by night hero?.. What do you care anyway; Leave me alone." It was demanding, hesitate but vital non the less. "Aren't you planning to just disappear again anyway?"

Haruka froze at Michiru's words, stopped the car and sat there erect.

After a moment, the harshness of her own words sunk in and Michiru's step became irregular. She paused to look back.

Somehow she longed to walk back and lean against Haruka's strong shoulder like before. To hold Haruka now, would be like holding her self; maybe it would help ease the ache. She felt her feet stumble as she fought with herself.

"Haruka.." she whispered sadly, feeling as through her name would shatter the air around them. Haruka didn't hear it, but shifted gears and pressed the gas. The car sped past and turned. Michiru stood there and swore balling her hands into fists.

"I hate you!" She screamedto the night sky.

Not knowing what else to do, Michiru kept on walking, her tears blinding her way.

It was so dark now, she couldn't see. If she were in the right frame of mind, she would have been scared.

The sound of a car pulled up again beside her after a good few minutes. The drivers knuckles were red as though they had been boxing with the steering wheel.

"Get in you crazy kid; I'm taking you home."

"I'm not a kid, but a woman, Tenou kun. Please, go away now."

"Kaiou san, don't be stupid." Haruka reached over and opened the passenger door.

"Get in. These roads are dangerous at night, and its pitch black."

"I don't need you. I never needed you!" Michiru spat, her heart telling her she lied.

Haruka flinched and hardened her eyes.

"For the sake of humanity then, please, get in the damned car."

"You're the one kidnapping women, Tenou kun. I was but a victim in all of this."

Haruka looked like she would be willing to speed off again, but clenched her jaw and turned off the motor.

"I'm sorry.."

"About what? Leading me on? Breaking my heart?.. Honestly, do you even know?"

Michiru said trembling. She stopped where she stood to see if the blond would try to dance out of this one.

"Kaiou san... I.. just can't."

Haruka's life lately even without Morgan, and possibly because of her, made it seem already so difficult and confusing. After all, an F-1 racer is not a family man's job. She couldn't afford anymore relationships. Any minute she could die, or be injured, or the media meddling; she didn't think she could handle it. She knew she couldn't stand it if it caused Michiru pain because of it. She already caused her so much pain.

That sounded about right.

If Haruka were free, she could travel whenever she wanted. She could now go wherever she wanted, whenever she wanted. She could live and die, how she wanted. Her life didn't seem to let her choose with love matters, but she could choose now. Right now, this moment. She liked being a bi-standard for woman when they wished their 'so and so' or 'such and such' could be like her. She wasn't ready to be someone's 'such and such' yet -again. Haruka learned that the hard way with Morgan, and the wound was just beginning to heal over. Admittedly, it might have been scar tissue but it was still healed. And everyone knows how dangerous cutting back into scarred tissue can be, even more sensitive to pain and damage; It could never stop bleeding.

Taking a deep couple of breaths of the salty air she tried to clear her head. Normally Haruka could think in her car, but Michiru's emotions bore into her like pointed arrows; Questions, demands, promises. The pain was there, so strong and intense, like a fatal wound. The presence of it was so strong, it made the air thick and somber, and it almost could be smelled in the air. It mixed with Haruka's own, making the perfect infection. Raw, gaping, emotion.

It was so intense Haruka couldn't think or hardly breathe, she felt like she were drowning in her thoughts.

Michru had been in the car for some time now.

Haruka had been so lost in her thoughts, it almost scared her. She wondered if she had pushed the woman too far, and suddenly it was all too tiring to think about anymore.

She reached over and took Haruka's hand. The touch seemed to pull the blonde out of her trance, and Haruka could barely comprehend Michiru's words.

She never even realised Michiru had been in the car at all.

"Cant...can't we just try?" Michiru whispered, longing to cry but her eyes seemed dry. She never wanted anything so much in her life.

There was a moment where the wind and ocean were the only noise, the crashing, churning, the hollowing. And then..

"I'll take you home," Haruka murmured listlessly. And when she started the car, she noticed how icy Michiru's touch had become, as she slid her hand away again, into her lap.

"Right. I wouldn't want to miss my last day of work." Michiru mused, almost bitterly but her voice was too cracked with pain.

"Last-?"

"Yes. I'm going home. There's nothing left for me here, in the Alley." Her face was unreadable as Haruka tried to find truth or lie in her words. For Michiru, either way it clearly was time to move on.

However it might have sounded, it was a legitimate reason. Wherever she ended up now, it would be away from Haruka and everything she had tried to be here. Michiru knew how to be unreadable and cold as well, she could be just as cold to Haruka.

Haruka connected Morgan's goodbye, to Michiru's now, and so she felt no need to object. Although it was Haruka's fear of rejection causing it, the feelings of resentment and error returned, and she was more confident in her choice because of them. This was always easy for her. It was later when she was alone with her thoughts, when it became so hard to breathe under their weight.

"I wish you well." She said, unable to think of something more to say.

"Thanks.." Michiru slid further away from Haruka, turning toward the passenger window and to the dark night.

- -

Authors Notes:
Look forward to the next chapter very soon. (It's done actually lol but I'm going to wait a day or so before I post it.) I'm bringing this around in a full circle. :grin:
P.s. how did you like Haruka's come back to Morgan?