Title: A substitute pianist
Author: Ree
Theme: Haruka/Uranus (illegal : day 3)
Genre: General(Romance?)
Version: Anime/Manga Post Stars/ pre-crystal Tokyo
Rating: G

This complex lady and her friends belong to Takeuchi Naoko. I just asked if they could play for a while.

A substitute pianist

Haruka stood quietly in the wings of the stage, listening to the violin music swell around her. 'It was worth the bribes.' The doorman had been a lot easier to bribe than the pianist. The man had gone on about his contract and being sued. 'I had to haggle with him for a good ten minutes, and then still had to pay him his salary up front.' Shaking her head, she carefully watched the conductor for the signal. 'I doubt Michiru will even press a breach of contract suit.' She refused to even contemplate the legalities of bribing them. Somehow everything would turn out fine, she was sure of it.

Michiru ended her song to thunderous applause, and the conductor signaled for the pianist to come out. As Haruka walked out onto the stage, the conductor's eyes narrowed slightly. Haruka dismissed him from her mind, instead she watched to see what Michiru's reaction was going to be. As she settled onto the piano bench, she kept her eyes on the aqua haired violinist. Michiru kept her eyes fastened on the audience and her music. Not once did her gaze travel back to the piano.

Keeping her face composed, Haruka tried not to feel slighted. 'Well, there goes my big surprise. All that for nothing. Maybe I will end up facing charges for bribery.' She tore her gaze from Michiru and scanned the music sitting on the stand. 'She always acknowledged me when I came on stage.' Resting her gaze on the conductor, she awaited the signal to begin. 'So ... maybe she only acknowledges me, not other pianists.'

Feeling a little better, she caught the conductor's signal to Michiru. Listening to the violin solo start slowly building, Haruka almost missed the conductor's signal for her to start. Her fingers brushed over the ivory keys, and she immersed herself in the tune. Smiling to herself, Haruka let herself drift in the background of the music, letting the focus concentrate on the violin and its player. The piano supported the violin, backing it up, highlighting the main melody. When they reached the end of the song, Haruka waited for Michiru to notice her, but the only one to show any sign of approval was the conductor. For the next two songs the cycle continued. Being unnoticed, then playing the best she could, the anticipation that this time Michiru would notice the difference, and then finally the let down when Michiru didn't.

Turning the last sheet of music for the previous song over, Haruka wondered how much longer this was going to last. She read the title of the next song, and her heart lifted once again. 'Our song... at least it once was ours. Sea breezes ... I can play this one with my eyes shut.'

Listening to Michiru start, Haruka noticed that the violin was lacking its usual joy. The waves didn't sound quite right. Closing her eyes, Haruka allowed herself to sink into the sad sounding ocean. When it was time for her to join in, she kept her eyes closed and played from memory. This song was a duet, both instruments were to support each other. Haruka slowly and carefully interwove her melody around that of the violin. In her mind she saw the ocean and the wind. The violin was the ocean and the piano was the wind. Haruka used the wind to help the waves reach their crests, and then followed them down into the troughs. As they entered the second movement of the piece, Haruka let her wind piano dance across the surface of the violin waves. The piano rushed madly across the sound of the violin, but was never drowning it out.

Since her eyes were closed, Haruka never saw what happened next. Michiru turned about to see who was playing the piano. Her eyes widened, and a true smile, not the one she wore for the audience, curved her lips. The audience sat in awe as Michiru's playing went from technically correct to a joyful, heart filled playing. The conductor was forgotten as he tried futilely to get both of his players attention.

Haruka heard the difference in the violin. It sounded happier, and soon both the piano and the violin were weaving the complex melody of the second movement in perfect sync. The waves would leap up to meet the wind, and then the wind would dance away or towards it. Then the wind would chase the waves.

The third movement slowly brought the frantic game to an end. The violin seas calmed, and the piano winds returned to gentle breezes. Each caressing the other, carefully supporting each other. They each let the other have a moment to shine, backing the other one up completely, helping them to reach their goal.

As the song drifted to an almost inaudible ending, Haruka opened her eyes. There, looking back at her, were the eyes she had longed to see all evening.

Time froze as they looked at each other. The sound of the clapping never entered their personal haven. Haruka was about to stand when one noise did cut through. The conductor tapped his baton on his stand. Slowly, they turned their heads to look at him. Very carefully, he gestured to the now standing audience. Their bubble snapped, and all they could hear was the thunderous applause.

Haruka finally stood up, but instead of kissing Michiru, as had been her earlier intent, she bowed to the audience with Michiru at her side. When the clapping did not stop, Michiru cast a sideways glance at Haruka. Their ability to communicate in silence was still working well. It was time for an encore, and the song was going to be one of their favorites.

Haruka returned to the piano, and Michiru stood close to it. Looking at each other, they started the song that they had composed together to put a little girl to sleep. The conductor sighed and he set his now useless baton down on his stand as Hotaru's Lullaby flowed through the quiet hall.