Disclaimer: I don't own any Sailor Moon characters.

A/N: At last, here it is, long overdue, but better late than never, ne? Yeah, so, I kinda lost my momentum for a while due to personal stuff. We'll see how that goes. And in light of other recent breakthrough events, I've been distracted with... other things. Then there's my latest project with Vanessa Riverton, so I was torn between which fic to update first. Lastly, I've somehow acquired bronchitis, so that's put a damper on things as well. But anyway, after being dragged out for so long, I give you chapter 10!

Chapter 10: The Godfather

The doorbell chimed.

"I'll get it! It's probably Haruka!" Michiru yelled excitedly as she ran to the front door.

"Since you're heading that way, could you please take the trash out, Michiru-chan?" Mieko asked of her daughter.

Michiru halted in the foyer and turned back to go to the kitchen. "Hai, hai," she said with a hint of reluctance. She picked up the bulky white trash bag by the doorway to the kitchen and continued to the front door. When she swung the door open, there was nobody outside. She stepped out and looked around puzzled. "Ruka? Are you messing with me again?" she called out into the night air. The only response she got was the chirps from the crickets. Of course she won't say anything if she's trying to scare me. Michiru stepped off the porch and made her way down the lighted path to put the trash out by the curb. She looked around again, wondering where her devilish blonde girlfriend could be hiding. "I'm going back inside now, Ruka, so you better show yourself." The bushes behind her rustled and two hands covered her eyes from behind. Michiru leaned back into the arms and giggled. "Oh, Ruka, you and your silly games."

Haruka was retracing her steps back to Michiru's house. She held her bag over her shoulder and hummed to herself. She couldn't wait to cuddle with her Michiru and fall asleep in her arms. Perhaps they could fall asleep watching a movie. The thought of her beautiful face being the very first thing she sees when she wakes up brought out a sigh and her steps quickened to reach its destination sooner. She entered Michiru's neighborhood and soon she was only a few blocks away. The Kaiou residence came into sight, and then she stopped. Under the light of one of the street lamps, she saw Michiru with someone else. From where she stood, Haruka could see Michiru smiling and leaning back against the stranger, and she could almost hear Michiru's giggle. When the stranger leaned down as if to kiss Michiru's cheek, the color drained from Haruka's face, especially when she noticed the stranger's distinguishing feature – a long ponytail. She turned away, unable and unwilling to witness anymore of the sight, and ran.

Dark blue eyes saw the figure standing down the street. The timing could not have been more perfect. "I'm not Ruka," the owner of the blue eyes said beside Michiru's ear.

Michiru quickly slipped out of the imposter's grasp and turned around. "What are you doing here, Seiya-chan?" she said fiercely.

"What are you doing with that dyke?" he asked back. "You should be with me."

"Get over yourself. And how dare you leave that letter in my locker! How did you know where my locker was in the first place?"

"Just because I go to Juban doesn't mean I don't know people at Mugen," he stated.

Michiru glared at Seiya. "Haruka will be here any moment. I suggest you leave now."

Seiya looked down the street. The figure that had been standing there earlier was now gone. "Right, we wouldn't want Tenou-san to see us sneaking around like this, ne?" He turned back to Michiru, but she was already a few steps away from her front door. He watched her go inside and snickered to himself. "Don't bother waiting up for Tenou-san," he said silently and left.

"Fuck!" she cried out and smashed her fist into the side of the dumpster in the alley by the bus stop. What the fuck is going on? She shut her eyes and searing tears poured out, but the image was still there – Michiru and Seiya, in close contact; Michiru, smiling and giggling the way she did when she was with Haruka. The dumpster groaned and creaked in protest as Haruka kicked it in frustration. What if Kou-san's return made Michiru have second thoughts and decide she wanted a boyfriend?

Baka! She loves you! the inner voice screamed at her. How many times do I have to tell you? If Haruka's conscience had a physical form that could stand next to her, it probably would've slapped the back of her head.

Does she? Did you see how happy she looked standing there with him?

You really think this jackass can just sweep Michiru away from you like that after everything that's happened between you and her?

Then what the fuck did I just see? She knew I was coming over! It's like she wanted me to see her with him!

A movement caught her attention. Haruka looked out toward the street and her rage overcame her. She ran out the alley and drew her fist back.

Seiya lifted his wrist to check his watch. Sweet, I made it just in time before the bus arr—

"You fucking bastard!"

The boy only had time to see knuckles landing square on his face. He heard a bone crunching sound and felt something wet run down from his nose as he was knocked backwards. Seiya shook his head and blinked to clear his vision. The blonde came into focus, and so did another set of knuckles. His head flew to the side as Haruka's fist hit him again right below his eye.

Panic stirred among the other people waiting at the bus stop as the fight ensued. One man was already dialing the number for the police on his cell phone.

"Fuck you, dyke!" Seiya spat out as he turned back to face Haruka. "Michiru is mine!"

The words burned into Haruka's mind and she took another swing at Seiya. He sidestepped, barely dodging the swift blow, and threw his fist into Haruka's stomach. Haruka felt the air rush out from her lungs and she bent over in pain.

Seiya wiped the blood dripping from his broken nose and walked over to Haruka. He grabbed her hair and pulled her head back, forcing her to look up at him. "How does it feel, bitch?" He pulled harder and Haruka cringed. "How does it feel to have your girlfriend stolen from you? I repeat, Michiru is mine!"

The more she thought of Michiru and Seiya together, the more she lost control. "You can't say her name like that! You don't know her!" Haruka quickly headbutted Seiya in his face and knocked his hand away from her. She tackled him to the ground and held him down on the sidewalk. Blood soon smeared her fists as she landed blow after blow on Seiya's face. Suddenly she felt hands grabbing her arms and pulling her off Seiya. She struggled against the hands, but they held her fast. Two police officers got Seiya on his feet next, but as soon as he was up he charged towards Haruka and started throwing hard punches at her face. The police officers got a hold of him again and he was shoved into the backseat of the police cruiser. Haruka was placed in a separate cruiser and they were brought to the nearest precinct.

The police officer took a sip from his coffee, placed the two folders on the table, and eyed the two bruised teenagers sitting in the interrogation room carefully. Judging by their different school uniforms, he had a feeling this little brawl had something to do with petty school rivalry. "What's wrong with you boys?"

The one in the Mugen uniform stared silently at the floor while the one from Juban snickered.

"You want to tell me what's so funny?" the officer demanded.

With a smug look, Seiya said, "I'm the only boy here, sir." He nodded in Haruka's direction. "That one's a dyke."

The officer turned curiously to Haruka, who still stared at the floor. He picked up the folders and held each one open while he matched the record to the face. "Tenou Haruka."

"Hai," Haruka uttered without looking up.

"It says here that witnesses say you started the fight."

"Hai."

He placed the folder back onto the table and leaned over. "Care to tell me more, Tenou-san?"

Haruka didn't answer. Her head hurt, her face hurt, her hands hurt, but most of all, her heart hurt.

"She's just pissed 'cuz she found out her girlfriend's a cheating whore," said Seiya.

Michiru. Tears began rolling down Haruka's face. "Don't you dare fucking call Michiru a whore."

"If she's been with you, and she's been with me, that makes Kaiou Michiru a whore." Seiya jumped back as Haruka lunged at him, but fortunately for him the handcuffs held Haruka to the chair.

"Fuck you!" Haruka shouted at him.

"Wait a minute, you said 'Kaiou Michiru'?" the officer interjected.

Neither Seiya nor Haruka replied. They just continued glaring at each other.

The officer picked up the phone and dialed a few buttons. After a few seconds, he said, "Please have the chief come down here. Tell him it has something to do with Kaiou-san's daughter."

"Are you planning to kidnap me? I'll have you know my father is friends with the chief of police." Haruka suddenly remembered what Michiru had said. Great, I'm making a really good impression now.

The officer hung up the phone and turned his attention to Seiya. "Kou Seiya."

"Hai," Seiya answered.

He glanced over the records contained in Seiya's folder. "Looks like this isn't your first visit down here."

Seiya sighed.

"Assault and battery?" The officer took a moment to read more. "Hmm, interesting. It says here you were the victim, but you didn't press charges." He began laughing. "So this isn't the first time you've been beaten by a girl."

"Go to hell," Seiya told the officer.

"It says a witness saw you near Juban Gakuen getting brutally beaten and called the police. Chargers were dismissed, but on the condition that you and the girl, who apparently was your girlfriend, seek counseling." He closed the folder and tossed it back on the table.

"I don't hit girls," Seiya muttered. "I was taking it like a man."

"I beg your pardon? Did you just say you don't hit girls?" the officer asked, gesturing towards Haruka.

"Pft, that's no normal girl," the boy argued. "And I have my reasons."

"Come here and I'll show you fucking normal!" Haruka dared Seiya.

Just then the door opened and the chief of police entered. He was a tall man and his hair was slicked back, making him look more like he was part of the Yakuza than the law enforcement. His face was set in a serious expression that made both Haruka and Seiya sit back in their chairs. There was a long silence as he stood in front of the two teenagers. Finally he said, "Because this is practically a schoolyard brawl, both of you just go home with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. But since it's been brought to my attention that my best friend's daughter may be involved, let me send you home with a piece of advice: If I find out that either of you has done anything to hurt Michiru-chan, there'll be hell to pay. Understood?"

Haruka and Seiya were silent.

"I said is that understood?" the chief shouted.

The two nodded their heads vigorously.

"Put them in separate holding cells," the chief instructed the officer. "And have their parents come pick them up. I'm going to call Takeshi and make sure Michiru-chan is okay."

"I was told their parents have already been contacted, Nakagawa-san," the officer informed the chief. "But Tenou-san's parents said they would not come."

Michiru sat at the bay window waiting for Haruka when the phone rang. She was beginning to worry. Elsa said Haruka had left over an hour ago, so she should've been at her house by now. Her father's voice murmured from the other room and then stopped suddenly. The words he spoke next came to Michiru's ears as clearly as if he was standing right next to her.

"Tenou Haruka?"

The young girl ran to her father. "Otou-san? What about Haruka? Is she alright?" she asked frantically.

Takeshi held his hand up and listened intently for a moment longer. He put his arm around his anxious daughter in an attempt to calm her down. "I see. No, it's alright. I'll come get her. Yes, I'll explain when I get there. Arigatou, Ryo-san," Takeshi said before hanging up the phone.

"Otou-san, what happened to Haruka?" Michiru asked in a panicked voice.

Takeshi tried to offer his daughter a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, she's okay."

"But that was Oji-san, wasn't it? Why is Oji-san calling about Haruka?"

"Haruka's fine, Hime-chan. I'm going to go get her right now."

"I'm coming with you!"

Before Takeshi could object, Michiru was by the door putting her shoes on.

At the police station, Haruka was lying down on the cot, staring at the ceiling. The bustle of ringing phones and typewriters outside the holding cell were distant to her ears. She felt like her life was turning more and more into a nightmare, and she just wanted to wake up from it. Seiya's parents had already come to get him, but who knew when her parents would come claim her. It didn't seem like it was going to be any time soon, so what was going to happen to her? They couldn't keep her here forever. She'd probably end up being handed over to social services or something.

And what about Michiru? How could she face Michiru after seeing her with Seiya? What would Michiru's parents think of her now that she'd gotten into a fight? She closed her eyes, trying to give in to the sleeping feeling. Maybe this really was a bad dream and she could just wake up and find herself in bed with Michiru.

"Haruka!"

Michiru. She could almost hear Michiru calling her name. How she loved the way her name sounded when Michiru said it.

"Haruka!"

It was like she was right beside her. She could even smell her scent and feel her soft hands touching her.

"Haruka, I was so worried about you!"

Haruka opened her eyes to two beautiful blue jewels and was relieved for a moment, thinking that it really had been all just a bad dream, until she noticed the cold gray walls of the holding cell.

"Michi, what are you doing here?"

"We're taking you home, Haruka-chan," Takeshi said by the cell's entrance.

Haruka got up and followed Michiru and her father back out to the lobby. Michiru noticed, however, that Haruka would not take her hand.

"Wait here first while I have a word with Nakagawa-san," Takeshi told the two girls before stepping inside the chief's office.

Michiru took Haruka's hand in hers and leaned against her, expecting to feel the tomboy's arms wrap around her, but Haruka remained motionless. She looked up into Haruka's bruised face and saw the blonde wouldn't look at her. Gently, she cupped Haruka's face and turned Haruka to face her.

"Ruka, what's wrong?"

Haruka slowly shook her head and turned her gaze to the tiled floor.

"My father said you got into a fight."

"Your parents hate me now, don't they. They think I'm unfit for you," Haruka said. It wasn't what she wanted to say, but she had to say something. She was stalling because she wasn't sure how to begin confronting Michiru about Seiya.

"No, they don't. Please tell me what happened, Ruka."

Haruka's mind searched for the right words, then said, "I saw Kou-san on my way to your house." She paused to see Michiru's reaction. Michiru let out a slight gasp that was barely audible, but Haruka caught it. "Seeing him made me furious, so I threw the first punch."

"So, you weren't at my house yet?" she said in what sounded like relief.

The tomboy's heart sank and she let the question go unanswered. Instead she asked, "Michiru, do you love me?"

"Of course I love you, Ruka," the other girl replied without a moment's hesitation.

"Do you want to be with me?"

Michiru stared at Haruka baffled. "Ruka, if you're thinking about that letter again or what Shigeko-chan said at swim team practice—"

"No, it's not that."

"Then what?"

Haruka stood silent.

"You're doing it again," Michiru said with a frown.

"Doing what?"

"You're not telling me something. I can tell when you're keeping something inside. I can almost hear your thoughts debating whether to say it or not."

"There's something you're not telling me either."

Michiru brought her face close to Haruka and held the tomboy's face in her hands. "There is nothing going on between me and Seiya-chan. You are the only one I want to be with. I love you, Haruka."

Haruka stared at the soft lips that had professed undying love for her in the past few days. Had those lips uttered the same words to someone else? Despite all of her doubts, Haruka desperately wanted to believe the girl who had become the love of her life. "I love you too, Michiru."

The aqua-haired girl caressed Haruka's face while being mindful of the cuts and bruises from the fight. "Ruka, I hate to see you hurt like this."

"I'm okay, Michi. Let's just forget it, okay?"

Michiru nodded and nestled herself within Haruka's arms.

Takeshi came out of the chief's office and called the two girls over. He closed the door once Haruka and Michiru were inside and had them sit in the chairs in front of the chief's desk. The intimidating expression Haruka had seen on the chief earlier was now replaced with a warm smile.

"Well, Michi-chan, I must say I'm not as shocked as I thought I might be when your father explained to me the situation, but I want you to know that you will always have my support and protection as your godfather," Nakagawa stated.

"Godfather?" both Haruka and Michiru echoed.

"You're my godfather?" Michiru asked peculiarly.

"As in, Yakuza?" Haruka added with a little more excitement in her tone than she intended.

Nakagawa laughed. "Rest assured, Tenou-san, I'm not part of the Yakuza. I'm merely Michiru-chan's guardian, should anything unfortunate happen to her parents. Regardless, my advice to you still applies."

"I would never do anything to hurt Michiru, Nakagawa-san," Haruka swore to the godfather.

"But it seems there's someone trying to hurt you. You are part of Michiru-chan's life now, therefore you fall under my protection as well, Tenou-san. I'm sure Michiru wouldn't have it any other way."

Michiru stood up from her chair and walked over to Haruka, where she wrapped her arms around her lover protectively. "Arigatou, Oji-san."

"Now you all should go home now and get some rest."

"Hai. Arigatou, Ryo-san," Takeshi said as Nakagawa showed them out.

Michiru got in the backseat of her father's car so she could sit with Haruka, who fell asleep almost instantly while Takeshi drove them home. But Haruka wasn't really sleeping. She just wanted to avoid conversation. Her thoughts still dwelled on seeing Michiru with Seiya. Kami knows how much she loved Michiru, but it still hurt nonetheless.

Haruka stepped out of Michiru's bathroom, freshly showered and wearing pajama pants and a black tank shirt. Her eyes beheld the young maiden on the bed, lying on her side and propped up on one elbow. The light from the nightstand produced a soft glow atop the light blue silk gown, enhancing every smooth curve on Michiru's body. It was a gorgeous sight, but tainted with Haruka's haunting thoughts.

"Ruka, are you okay?"

"Er, where am I going to sleep?" Haruka avoided her real concern.

"With me, of course."

"Yeah, I know, but your parents…"

"My parents know about us and there's no harm in letting us sleep in the same bed."

"Except maybe that we won't actually be sleeping," Haruka said insinuatingly.

"Maybe," Michiru replied. She slid her hand through her aqua tresses, pushing it back behind her and revealing a strap hanging loosely off her shoulder.

Haruka leaned over the bed and lightly placed her lips on the exposed skin. Michiru giggled at the soft touch and slowly lay back, drawing Haruka on top of her.

"Haruka, I'm so in love with you," Michiru said softly. "My love, my life, it all belongs to you."

"Do you mean that?"

Michiru moved Haruka's blonde bangs to the side so she could gaze into her lover's green eyes. "Hai, my love." She pulled Haruka closer and sealed her promise with a kiss.

Haruka couldn't bring herself to confess what was really on her mind at that point, especially when she felt the hands of her lover making contact with her skin at her waist. Her tank shirt was slowly lifted off as Michiru's hands slid upwards, stopping only to trace the curve of the small of Haruka's back that was no longer hidden. Haruka gave way to the shudders that spread from her sensitive spot and resisted the ticklish feeling that accompanied it.

"Michi," she moaned.

"It's my turn," Michiru whispered, brushing her lips against Haruka's ear and making the tomboy shudder even more. Haruka's elbows buckled and Michiru took the opportunity to lay Haruka on her back. She straddled the blonde and leaned down to assault Haruka's ear again. "You've had a taste of me, now I'm going to have a taste of you."

Haruka began panting as Michiru's lips trailed down her neck. Her hands found their niche at Michiru's waist and she realized something was missing. "You're not wearing underwear."

Michiru sat up and smiled at Haruka seductively. Seeing that she had Haruka's eyes on her, she slipped her nightgown off over her head, revealing her fully naked body before Haruka.

"I can never get over how beautiful you are," Haruka said, reaching to answer the call of the hardening nipples of Michiru's breasts. To her dismay, however, she was denied by Michiru, who took Haruka's hands and pinned them down on each side of her head. Using her teeth, Michiru pulled Haruka's tank shirt further up till she could nuzzle the fabric away from her purpose. She placed her lips around one nipple first, then the other. Each nipple grew stiff in response, making Haruka groan in want. Michiru moved back up to capture Haruka's lips while deliberately having her perky nipples brush against Haruka's aching ones.

"Michi," she whimpered into Michiru's mouth. Haruka tried to escape the other girl's grasp, but Michiru held on tightly.

"Just relax, Ruka. Allow me." Michiru released Haruka's wrists when she felt the tomboy at ease and moved on to completely remove Haruka's tank shirt from her body. Haruka's chest rose and fell rapidly in anticipation as Michiru's tongue made a path down her body. When she arrived at Haruka's waist, she slipped both the pajama pants and the boxers down the track star's slim legs in one swoop. With Haruka now equally as naked as she, Michiru slid back up the toned body, making full contact and leaving no body part untouched. The friction caused by their bodies made Haruka overcome with heat and she clenched the pillow to keep her hands from disobeying Michiru's wish. She could feel the wetness seeping out between her legs and she rocked her hips against Michiru's, beckoning her to attend to her need.

"Michi," Haruka began to plead until she drew in a sharp breath as her left nipple was taken in by Michiru's mouth. Her lover sucked on the peak of her breast and teased it with her tongue while bringing a hand up to massage the other one. The same hand soon moved down the length of Haruka's body till it finally reached the area calling for attention. The tomboy shut her eyes, surrendering herself to the whim of her lover, whose mouth was following the same path as the preceding hand and slowly descending further down her body.

In the darkness she could feel Michiru making love to her, but the earlier scene of Michiru and Seiya soon manifested in her mind. She tried to make it disappear, but it only grew clearer by the second.

"How does it feel to have your girlfriend stolen from you? Michiru is mine!" the words resonated in her mind.

Haruka opened her eyes and looked at the girl between her legs busily building her up to climax. She closed her eyes again in hopes that the disturbing image had dissipated, but it was there again, as clear as if she was standing on the sidewalk watching the occurrence all over again. Her arousal was quickly fading and being replaced by grief.

"Michiru, stop," she said breathlessly and sat up.

The other girl sat up as well and looked at her with concern. "Was I doing something wrong?"

"No, no, you weren't doing anything wrong. You felt great. I'm just… distracted."

Michiru stared at Haruka intently then asked, "Ruka, what is it?"

"I think… I'm just tired. It's been a long day, that's all," Haruka said. "My head still kinda hurts from the fight."

"Oh Ruka," Michiru said sympathetically. "Scoot over then and we'll go to sleep."

Haruka made room for Michiru to lie down beside her and pulled the blankets over their bodies. Michiru cuddled close to Haruka and laid her head on Haruka's shoulder.

"I love you, Haruka," Michiru said and gave her lover a kiss.

"I love you, Michiru."

"Oyasumi," they both said at the same time.

"Quick, make a wish!" Michiru exclaimed.

"I wish…" Haruka said thoughtfully.

"Don't say it out loud! Or else it won't come true."

"I know, Michi. It's done, I made a wish."

Michiru closed her eyes then and murmured, "Someday your wish will come true."

"Hopefully, my love, hopefully."

Haruka watched as the girl in her arms drifted peacefully to sleep. She, however, could not fall into slumber so easily. The antagonizing image was still there whenever she closed her eyes.

Tomorrow, I'll ask her.

It would be hours before fatigue finally took over.