Chapter 2: Piano or Violin
Trine was a tiny bar situated in the inferior half of East Tokyo. She frequented here because of her anonymity, the ambience, and the people she expected not to be inside. The atmosphere screamed the need for isolation and there would be no other reason she'd go here other than that.
But as she entered, she was surprised to see her there.
Not in the way that the other customers thought, but because she was a fan of classical music and knew her as the world class violinist she was rather than just a very well dressed, sophisticated, refined, random woman in a low class bar. Immediately, she wondered what she was doing there, but before that train of thought could go any further, her brain finally caught on that she looked…beautiful…to say the least. Usually, this factor would be the first she'd notice from a familiar face, but her complete lack of guard at seeing anyone she knew at Trine made this second. She observed how the younger woman seemed to glow in the dimly lit room, her aquamarine curls cascading down her back and shoulders. Surprisingly enough, she didn't exactly wear the most refined clothes: beige dress pants and a white long sleeve shirt that hugged her body quite nicely, but this didn't cause any deduction of…points.
She almost decided to leave her alone…almost. Normally speaking, she would hate it if some random, albeit rich person just walked to her when she figuratively screamed for isolation but as she glanced around the room she saw that most men were already gazing at her from afar…some getting drunk enough to make a pass. She smirked. With her confidence built, she moved forward.
Her presence didn't go by unnoticed. She felt a sudden rise in the aqua haired woman's head and the shift of her body that came with it as she almost invasively plopped on the stool next to her.
"Surprising to see someone like you here," Haruka stated in greeting, but didn't exactly look at her, her emerald eyes beckoning the bartender of her attendance instead.
He caught on rather quickly and gave the usual screwdriver to start. As he handed her the yellowish drink an uncomfortable silence engulfed the table, making her smirk at how such a conversationalist she was suddenly turning into. "Wanted to have a little drink? Although this kind of place is just a little unsuited for someone like you…"
She turned to her side, her smirk growing wider as the beautiful woman finally turned to her, a slight look of annoyance gracing her otherwise soft features.
"I'm sorry, but do I know you?"
Her voice sounded melodic, albeit just a bit angry.
Haruka's smirk turned into a laughing smile as she gave a tiny bow. "Maybe if I introduced myself first. Tenoh Haruka."
The aqua haired woman gave a slight look of surprise before deciding to give a small bow as well. "Kaioh Michiru."
The blonde nodded taking a small sip of her drink. "Nh, I knew that already. But would it be too much to ask what a refined young woman such as yourself is doing in the weirder side of town?"
Michiru looked at her for a second as if contemplating the question in and of itself. Then she gave an outward smirk as well, the face she sported rising the curiosity of the blonde's further.
"I figure," she started drinking a bit from her pinkish and obviously alcoholic drink as well. "The same reason you are?"
That was a good answer, Haruka thought and nodded in agreement. "Then, can I ask for your company for tonight?" she asked looking imploringly at deep sapphire eyes. "Kind of lonely and depressing seeing someone like you drinking alone."
Michiru laughed, the sound of it ringing through Haruka's ears. "Some time back, I came across a Shou Hikaru…"
She trailed causing Haruka to sigh a bit, drinking more of her drink than she intended in one swig. "Whatever it is she told you, it's not true."
"Hmm," the violinist sounded. "So you're not a player and didn't approach her during a conference her father was hosting just to get her in bed?"
"It was a boring conference and she looked as bored as I was," Haruka answered. "And it wasn't as if I approached her just for…a quick fix—
"Mhmm, you waited until after the conference," Michiru cut off.
The blonde sighed in exasperation. "You know, if you wanted me to just go away, all you had to do was say so…"
"No, you can stay," the aqua haired woman replied, her eyes twinkling a bit from amusement. "I'm just enjoying putting you on the spotlight."
The bartender approached them then and gave Haruka the same drink in a different glass.
"You're a regular here," the shorter woman observed as the blonde gave a tiny nod.
"It's one of those places that you can be anonymous…feels kind of nice after a long day of kissing ass or having others kiss yours. Just give a good tip and he'll keep coming back," Haruka replied, nodding at the bartender as she did so.
Michiru smiled wryly, knowing exactly what the young CEO meant.
"Well," Haruka continued locking eyes with her again. "If you didn't want to say why you were here…what should we talk about?"
The smaller woman laughed at her forwardness…for asking a question one usually wouldn't given the situation they were both in. "What do you want to know?"
Haruka turned to her, resting her face on her propped left arm. She felt the presence of new customers drift beside her as she glanced at a lone table at the farther end of the establishment, more isolated and remote than a lot of the other tables that were already filling in as well. "Let's move over there and you can tell me whatever you feel like saying."
Michiru nodded in agreement, let Haruka take her glass with her and followed the blonde to said table. When they settled down, their second introductions began.
It surprised them both to find that night, that they had a lot to talk about regardless of the roundabout way they neither spoke about their main problems.
The young CEO found that Michiru was a violinist that came from an "old money family," a bit of information that she already somewhat knew. She wasn't given much leniency over her life, the choices set before her made ever since it was known to her. At the age of six she was asked to point between two instruments: a piano or a violin. She had pointed at the violin only because the piano seemed overbearingly large and dark. Ever since then, there was no turning back from playing the violin.
"Not that I minded," Michiru stated seriously, nursing her drink that consisted of wine now. "I just wondered if life would've been different if I played the piano…it's a kind of juvenile thought now that I think about it."
Haruka looked on seriously, biting back a comment she wanted to let out.
She also found that the violinist still had both parents, both still legally married, both used to their mistresses and lovers, and both still fighting endlessly for the top rank in their ever famous and popular tea party ceremony company. This morose information was all Haruka wanted to know about Michiru's parents which was lucky for her because that would be all the aqua haired woman was willing to say.
When the question, "So what about you?" was asked by the violinist to the ever listening blonde, all she got was a cryptic smile.
No answer came, Haruka instead glancing at her watch and noticing that two hours had already passed them by.
"I think I'll take a rain check," she stated getting a surprised look from Michiru. "Well I remember in the beginning of our conversation that you thought my only intention was to bed you…so I'll leave my side for next week…or whenever next time means for the two of us."
The violinist gave a little smile and pushed her drink away with a nod. "Alright, 'til next time then."
Haruka gave a small nod as well. "Can I interest you in a ride or—
"My chauffeur's coming for me. A nice, kind old man that's known me for so long that he wouldn't object to pick me up from such a place," the younger woman explained. "And what about you? Is it safe to drive in your condition?"
Haruka scoffed. "I can drive while sleeping…a couple glasses doesn't make a difference." She waved the other girl's question away easily.
Thin aquamarine eyebrows went up in question and wary. "Have someone pick up your car, we'll take you home," she ordered.
Haruka frowned. "I can drive."
Michiru nodded dumbly as if she were speaking to a child and punched several keys on her phone. "Satoshi-san, I'm still at the bar, Trine. I have a friend with me so we'll be dropping her off first—
"I can drive—
The violinist leaned over and sealed the blonde's lips with her index finger. "Fifteen minutes? Thank you, we'll be waiting."
Too soon, Michiru felt a wet…thing sliding up her finger. She retracted her hand in shock and looked at the slyly smirking blonde, tongue still sticking out proudly while complete hotness blared down her body.
"Salty…"
"Tenoh-san!" the violinist yelled indignantly wiping her finger in hopes of dwindling the raging feeling her body was radiating.
"I'm sorry Kaioh-san, but I don't normally talk so formally to women I've just licked. Haruka's fine," the blonde laughed.
Michiru frowned at her, a red blush already formulated to her cheeks. "That was uncalled for—
"Mhmm, but your body seems to be enjoying it," Haruka stated, her serious intonation not missed by the violinist. Before she could answer though, the young CEO continued, "Alright. Since you put up with my antics today, I'm willing to let you drop me off."
The violinist sighed, got up, paid for whatever else she thought she owed and more and left, a wary eye looking at a blonde that did the same.
Haruka gave a little nod to the bartender who gave his goodbyes and strode to the coat hanger, taking hers and a long, white leather one that could only belong to her company for the night. In a gentlemanly way she helped Michiru into her coat, both of them sharing a comfortable silence for a few minutes, only broken by the violinist's buzzing phone.
"Yes? Okay, we'll be right out," she stated and pulled Haruka outside by the arm with her just in case the latter decided to change her mind in the last minute.
The taller woman gave a small smirk as she fished for her cell phone as well. Punching a couple buttons, she pressed it against her ear and waited, Michiru still holding on her arm as she did so. "Yeah, I'm leaving my car at a bar called Trine in East Tokyo. Pick it up and drop it off at my beach house. I want it there before I wake up tomorrow." Without waiting for a reply she shut off her flip phone and began walking outside with the younger woman.
The violinist gave an amused smile. "That was very commanding."
Haruka nodded. "I don't know how else to speak with them."
"Would you be nicer if you did?"
Good question, Haruka thought and smirked. With a shake of her head, she answered quite truthfully, "Nope."
Satoshi-san, was a balding old man with square spectacles over his brown face. He exuberated the kind of nice aura Haruka preyed on during board meeting with new companies and his small frame made him look all the more vulnerable.
"How old is this guy? Ninety?" she whispered.
She received an elbow from the shorter woman, one she faked with hurt.
"He's fifty-five, he's my chauffer, and he's a very nice man—
"His glasses are thick. Are you sure he can drive?"
"I've driven the Kaioh family ever since I was eighteen years old young man," Satoshi stated receiving a questioning eyebrow from the blonde. "Zero accidents, zero tickets, more than a million miles in my track record and more than thirty seven years of driving experience. I think I can drive."
Michiru laughed beside a nodding blonde. "All that and I still think you need your glasses checked. I'm a woman."
Her driver nodded as if Haruka were a school child he needed explaining to. "I remember ojou-sama saying so. I just felt compelled to call you 'young man' because you wouldn't dress like it unless you wanted to be called it."
"Touché," Haruka stated with a wide smile and followed Michiru into the spacious black limo.
"Where would you like to go?" said girl asked, with amusement still twinkling in her eyes.
"My beach house, south of Tokyo. I'll give your trusty chauffer the address so he doesn't get lost," Haruka stated.
"Be nice."
With a smirk, she slid herself across the seats to the opened window and told the old man congenially of her address. With it taken care of, she came back and sat down beside the waiting girl.
"You don't live in the city?" was the question that greeted her as she settled down.
"I do," Haruka answered crossing her arms and legs as she did so. "I have a penthouse atop The Royal, Renaissance, Tenoh Tower, and well...if your family's specialty was condominiums, hotels and the like, I think living space would be the last thing on your mind."
Michiru laughed, nodding a bit at the answer she got. "It's like asking me if I like tea."
"Do you like tea?" They shared a questioning glance before the younger woman realized it was a serious question. Before she could answer though, Haruka continued, "'Cuz you know…I can't say I love condominiums. It's a job…so do you like tea?"
"Not as much as my parents apparently. I drink it enough…I've been raised around it—
"But you'd rather play the violin?"
Michiru locked eyes with Haruka, a quiet and serious look pronounced on her features. Simultaneously, the taller woman waited, not breaking the eye contact. "Tea…is not what I was intended to do. As much as you weren't intended to run a company surrounding the sales and buildings of condominiums."
The last part was said quietly, both leaving one another to look at each other seriously. Haruka nodded after a while and was first to break contact, shifting her head to the dark vastness outside instead.
The distant sounds of roaring waves was imminent as well as the ever growing silence surrounding the car. As the limo drove out of the asphalt and into sand, Haruka looked out at the almost creepy figure of her white beach house.
Turning slightly to her left she found a quiet Michiru looking at her. "I'll be at Trine next week as well if you're interested…to abide for that rain check. If you have the time, come join me. If that's not the case, it was nice to meet you."
Taking a warm, soft hand from the younger woman's lap, she raised it on her lips and kissed it slightly, a handsome smile gracing her face. She felt the violinist swallow, a small shaky smile returned.
Turning away, she unlatched the door and pushed it open, inviting the salty smell that pervaded her entire being. Looking back, she gave one last smile to a still smiling Michiru and gave a little wave before shutting the door. Without turning around, she pressed her coat closer to her and fished for her keys, unlocked the door, opened it, and closed it in a matter of seconds. Inside the usually kept warm room, she gave a small frown as the sound of the limo moved quickly away.
O--O--O--O--O
Staring out into the crowd, the hundreds of unfamiliar faces went unnoticed by her as she glanced at the poise, sitting figure of the blonde.
The question, I wonder if she's enjoying it quickly graced her mind and she was quite surprised to see such an unfamiliar look the blonde was giving her.
She wasn't smiling and neither did she look bored. She had a curiously blank expression marred by a small frown. Nevertheless the look gave her an uneasy feeling. She wanted her to enjoy it first of and if she really was a fan of hers like she said, appreciate it of course.
She ended the song with a dwindling note as a wave of applause washed over it. With only a slight pause to acknowledge the transition she was about to make. She raised her bow again and began playing a light and happy tune. Closing her eyes, she reminisced of her scheduled second meeting with the blonde.
O--O
She wasn't completely sure why she went back. It could've been the subtle, almost flirtatious gestures Haruka was giving her only a week back, or her roguish and boisterous nature. Either way when she came back to Trine, the first thing she did as she entered was glance at the table they moved to after their initial meeting at the bar. To her disappointment, the table was empty so she made her way to the bar giving a smile to the friendly bartender as she did so.
She chose to ignore the cat calls and whistles, opting for the bartender to shush the men sitting outside the bar area instead and ordered her glass of wine. The often opening and closing of the door stopped her from turning to see if Haruka had arrived after her tenth glance. Chastising herself for actually acting like a giddy child, she concentrated on her drink and let the noise wash over her instead.
After ten minutes, she wondered what she was still doing there…as well as why she didn't ask for the blonde's number the last time they spoke. The CEO's words from last week echoed through her ears and it would seem as if the former would be the one to wait, not the other way around. Nonetheless, she was tired. Last week she was feeling different from this one.
Last week she had desperately wanted to stray her thoughts away from what had happened only hours previously: the Kaioh monthly dinner. Every second Saturday of every month, each of the three Kaiohs cleared two hours of their schedules from six P.M. to eight P.M for their almost made-ritual dinner.
It wasn't as if they were all so busy that they couldn't meet more often. If anything, they didn't want to. Every dinner was almost always the same—clipped hellos, short conversations, clinking of utensils…mannerful, formal, cold.
She'd gotten used to it over the years, so by now she's learned to cope. It wasn't her presence that bothered her parents, it was each other's. Sometimes she wished both of them would bring their lovers in these monthly dinners, just so it was more…real. It was a never ending dance they were swaying to, neither wanting to stop to take a breather, and although she felt this now, she's most definitely afraid of what would happen when they finally get tired and one of them chooses to stop.
"That look says your wine needs more potency."
The husky, familiar voice shook her out of her reverie, forcing her to look up to a playfully smiling Haruka.
She frowned, crossing her arms as she did so. "You're late."
"Late?" the blonde asked incredulously. "I don't remember saying when I'd be here, just that I would be."
Thin aqua eyebrows went up in amusement as Haruka motioned for them to go to their table. Taking her drink from the bartender, Michiru followed her and both simultaneously sat down. Her completely black suit devoid of a tie suited her frame real well making Michiru just a tad curious as to what she looked like without it. Shaking her head to dispel such a random thought, she sipped her wine before starting.
"Rain check. Start it off."
Haruka laughed. "Well aren't you eager?"
For the rest of the night, Michiru was given information about the blonde. If anything, it seemed like a job interview. She asked a question and Haruka answered to the point of only answering a question. There was no emotion behind the answers—just facts.
She found that Haruka came from a soundly gifted, architecture and realtor derived family. Her mother was the architect, her father the realtor. After schooling they started a menial architectural firm that initially concentrated on the building and rental of middle class buildings north of Tokyo. A couple years into this almost monotonous job, they began a project to revitalize an apartment complex in Kyoto, a turning point for both of their careers as well as the notoriety they needed to rise. They turned said complex from a fifty percent vacancy rate to one hundred percent in less than one year after the rebuilding and remodeling process, and then sold it for more than half of what they paid for to begin with.
This multi billion yen pay off extended Tenoh Inc. into Tenoh Corporation, permanently setting their presence in the Japanese economy into stone. After this they were asked to partake on big jobs and deals concerning city buildings and hotel/condominium properties, each done with expertise and more than eight figures in yen back each time. These big payoffs led to the building of towers inside Tokyo itself: the Renaissance and Royal, the twin hotels and the Courier and Tenoh Tower, the business and penthouse towers.
"And this was all done within a decade?" Michiru asked in awe.
Haruka nodded. "My mother was pregnant with me a year after The Courier, the last of the four towers, was built, so I guess you could say I was their fifth child."
The violinist laughed. "So when did you get into the family business?"
"I didn't," the blonde answered with a frown.
They stared at each other for a couple seconds before Michiru let out a long sigh. "Tenoh-san—
"Haruka…I told you this the last time we were together."
"Fine! But you can't make this a game of twenty questions! Bring more to the table…"
Haruka laughed heartedly. "I didn't realize we were that close already."
The aqua haired woman gave an unimpressed look causing the young CEO to laugh harder.
"Fine, fine…" she stated, deciding to let herself go this time around. "What was the question?"
"How did you get into the family business?"
The blonde sighed, her smile dropping slowly, a frown crease taking its place instead. Michiru noticed the small drooping of her shoulders as her eyes concentrated on her still full drink, an almost lost expression laced in them. "In my second year of high school," she started, "my father was diagnosed with lung cancer. He smoked…way too much, way too often. There wasn't a lot we could do, but wait for him to deteriorate—there was little to no medications available at the time and even if there was, his nature was to be stubborn, tough acting…he refused to take them.
"His wish before he died was for me to major business in college…so I can keep their legacy up. The company, its assets, all the properties…would be under my care after a year of 'on the job' experience…'cuz apparently my mother really needed my father…and became otherwise useless without his continued presence."
It was quiet for a few seconds, dark green orbs still eyeing at the glass in front of her. When she looked up, she found troubled dark blue ones fixed on her. She gave a half hearted shrug and took a quick swig from her glass.
"I could've said no. Of course it's a lot harder doing it while looking at your dying father right in the eye, but excuses aside, I could've said no. I had dreams at seventeen…I had aspirations…but they almost seemed meaningless when you looked at what I'd have to give up."
Her eyes had glazed a little, her right hand swishing her glass unconsciously. She looked lost for a moment as to what to say before looking up and locking eyes with Michiru. "It's like selling your soul to the devil…but it sucks…when the devil's your father."
She smiled dejectedly at the frowning expression the violinist sported and took another sip of her drink. They shared an uncomfortable silence for a few moments, the violinist almost wishing she didn't ask what was obviously a private question. Before she could apologize though, all traces of sadness left the blonde's figure, almost as if they hadn't spoken about anything morose at all.
"So…I think I've filled my end of the bargain and more…so now you owe me something," she stated with an added grin
Michiru gave a harassed look, noting the sudden difference in the blonde's demeanor as she gave her a challenging smirk. During the entire exchange, from the first word to the last, was a different Haruka than the smiling one currently looking at her.
Everyone's got a side they need to hide, she thought morosely. Not just me.
And that realer expression the young CEO made earlier made all the difference of her initial impression of her.
"Fine," she stated with a kind of fake exasperation. She decided to take the challenge. "What do you want then?"
"An exchange of words I guess," Haruka answered quickly and cryptically. After she received a questioning rise of the brow, she continued, "I still want to know why you were here last week. I mean, I know I'm the reason you're here this week, but you didn't know me last week so—
"Wow," Michiru cut off, an amused expression gracing her soft features. "You sure think highly of yourself."
Haruka shrugged, her playful smile never leaving. "But let's not change the subject. Why were you here last week?"
Michiru pursed her lips, a soft frown marring her soft features. She didn't ask herself whether or not she wanted to relay the information, she just did. "Well, I told you last week how…well my parents' marriage has evolved through the years…"
Haruka nodded, smiling morosely at the defeated way her company started.
"In the second Saturday of every month, we have dinner together. Always it's in the same restaurant, in the same table, with the same atmosphere. I think…they feel the need to do it because of me and I want to tell them to stop because it's not worth it anymore."
"Are you afraid of them legally separating?"
The question hit the spot. Michiru's hands shook a little as she let it wash over her, trained green eyes never leaving her frame. Over the years she's managed to shut herself as well so it came as no surprise to both of them how quickly she regained composure after such a question.
"I think it's passed due…their marriage. But even then, I'll always be their child so no, of course I would never want them to legally separate," she stated quietly, not able to meet up with the other woman's sparkling green eyes. "I remember a nicer time…a nicer marriage—a time when they didn't have to go to other people.
"A separation is exactly what it entails. It's the complete personification of a bond two people had that they're willing to give up. I don't feel that such words should reflect on my parents because I've seen them love one another in the past."
The violinist's words had become softer, quieter and she hoped that Haruka's questions wouldn't go any further. She was definitely not ready to speak of this, far more so to a person that seemed almost like a stranger. But before she could progress this thought, the young CEO had once again started speaking.
"There was a time when I was around fourteen or fifteen when my parents' fidelity and faithfulness were tested," the blonde stated, feeling as if she should say something about starting this next morose bit of conversation. "My mother had asked for an immediate divorce after finding my father had been cheating on her with a client, but then I remember her looking at me. I could see without her saying so that she desperately wanted to put my well being into consideration…what price I would have to pay for something that was their doing. She didn't feel it was worth it—to put me into that kind of uncomfortable spot. So she let it go and after that it just kind of died down.
"Their marriage was, you could say 'on the rocks', but well…my dad had started showing signs of debilitation by then so after he was diagnosed with cancer they both decided to leave their marriage as it is…on good terms. My mother clearly loved my father though. Her whole divorce statement seemed more like an empty threat especially after he died. I had just started business school at the time and she literally worked herself to death just to cover his absence.
"She's one of the main reasons why I decided to take my father's offer. She aged…quite significantly ever since he was diagnosed and although she worked up until I finished college, I only wanted to graduate sooner just so I can relieve her of her position."
Michiru gave a sympathetic smile that Haruka waved off automatically. "What I'm trying to say is, you matter. Not only as a physical presence like I was, but possibly as the only means to save your parents' marriage…if that's what you want to do."
The violinist nodded, appreciating the blonde's input. Taking a small glance at her watch, Haruka gave a sudden laugh causing her to look up surreptitiously. When she gave a questioning glance and only received a wave of dismissal, she immediately frowned.
"Don't laugh like that unless you plan on explaining yourself."
Haruka smirked. "It's been two hours already and I showed up today thinking you weren't going to be here."
Michiru's frown increased as she raised one of her brows in askance. "Didn't you say you owed me a rain check?"
The blonde nodded. "Yeah, but I always say that…and usually girls that I let go on the first meeting don't come back."
The statement made her freeze.
Silence engulfed the table, Haruka giving a questioning smirk and Michiru still looking like a guilty child.
"Is it so bad to get to know you?" was finally the question to answer the question given.
The young CEO shook her head easily. "Of course not. But I do remember you knowing me as a 'notorious player' or at least that's the impression you had of me. So with that already under your knowledge I'm just wondering why you came back…early even."
"I wasn't early, you were late."
"So are we going to make a habit of this?"
Michiru looked at her in confusion. "Do you have any friends…Haruka-san?"
The blonde smirked. "Is this what friends usually do? Meet up, sit around, talk for a couple hours, and then go their separate ways afterwards?"
"Usually, yes."
"Then no, I can't say I have friends. These kinds of meetings are more aimed towards bedding women more than befriending them."
"So I've heard," Michiru muttered.
Haruka laughed.
The younger woman could see why women would be enraptured though. When the blonde laughed her forest green eyes had a way of sucking people in. Her confidence screamed arrogance, and that by itself usually broke the camel's back, earning her either company for the night or disgust. And the fact that she was a woman made other women curious to say the least, or at least she thought it would be that way. She figured Haruka was a pro at making girls inquire what orientation they really were if the thought hadn't graced their minds before…and then probably "turn" for one night just to see how it is. But more than this almost obvious self discovery, Michiru wanted to get to know the woman that was just exposed some time ago: the one speaking of her dreams and aspirations. The look she sported then seemed more real than the confident one she wore like an old mask. But this bit of realization didn't stop her from asking her next almost prying question.
"How much is your playboying a fact and how much of it is a myth?"
The sudden question made Haruka look up from her drink, the action making the vodka trickle to the wrong tube. After letting out a few coughing fits, ones that Michiru was shocked to see and almost stood up for to help her before getting a wave of dismissal, the blonde pushed a napkin to her lips before asking, "Why the sudden interest in my sex life?"
The violinist shook her head. "Not your sex life per se—
"Do you want to give it a go?"
"Haruka…"
The young CEO gave a wide smile. "Alright, fine," she stated in fake exasperation. "It's all a lie! I don't have sex! I'm a pure virgin in search of my long lost love…"
Michiru immediately frowned making the blonde trail off into a laugh. "No, I'm not a sex maniac," she stated with a widened smirk. "I don't frequent places with the thought of taking someone home with me…I usually am the one to object. I don't like being the trial run. I've had one serious relationship back in business school that taught me all I needed to know about who I should be as a person in a relationship and I usually don't need more than what I already know.
"Shou Hikaru is one of the few exceptions only because my state of mind was either cloudy or not present at the time. My way to vent is sex…or driving. I already have the cars so the latter's usually the one performed." Michiru swallowed at how direct Haruka had answered her. "Not the answer you were looking for?"
"It was," she nodded. "A little more direct that I thought you'd answer—
The blonde laughed brashly. "You were the one telling me to stop that!"
"I know!" the smaller woman exclaimed. "I just thought you'd be more discreet about that one…"
Haruka laughed further. "I only joke about it since it's apparently a common misconception about me. And since our initial meeting started that way I figured it would be fine to joke about it with you. If you're uncomfortable though, I can stop."
Michiru shook her head. "It's fine by me. You're not offending me or anything."
"And what about you? Not your sex life per se," Haruka said mimicking her words earlier. "But have you ever been…curious?"
Michiru smirked. "In high school."
Haruka's eyes widened in obvious surprise as well as interest making the violinist laugh. "Well don't stop!"
"Okay!" the shorter woman exclaimed. "In high school there was this popular, highly athletic girl that was known nationally for her achievements in sports. I mean, I never went beyond just looking, but I did idolize her for the better half of two school years before she went on and graduated."
"Did she know you?"
Michiru shrugged. "Probably…since I was known as a prodigy in my school, but if your question is if we ever spoke, then no."
"Hmm," Haruka sounded, sounding almost disappointed. "Is that the only time you were…bi-curious?"
The younger woman searched her mind and nodded after a while. "I mean, I check out people, men and women alike and I've gotten into serious enough relationships with men to know that I like them, but I've never really gotten into a relationship with a woman to know if I could be swayed the other way."
"Why not?"
The question was put very invasively.
While Michiru was trying to find the words to say to answer the question Haruka asked, "Is it because of who you are? Old money generation family, well to do reputation—
"Yes."
Sapphire eyes locked with emerald ones again, both staring down one another seriously. After a while, Haruka decided to be the one to yield, breaking their stare off and passively looked at some random things beside her.
"Are you afraid that you could be missing out on the one thing that could make you who you are because of…reputation?"
Michiru pursed her lips and looked away. "I'll leave that as a rhetorical question."
Haruka nodded and understandingly backed off. Sighing, she looked at her wristwatch and realized that it wasn't late at all, but deciding to cut it off for both their sakes. "It's late. I have some things I want to get started on early tomorrow so…"
"Yeah," Michiru stated and stood up. "I should get going as well. It was nice speaking with you Haruka-san. I hope we can meet up again and talk like this. It was nice…refreshing."
The air around them had turned formal all of the sudden making Haruka look like she wanted to scoff. Instead she bowed and gave her confident smile. "When you have a chance, come visit me again. I promise I won't play the playboy part you thought me initially as."
Michiru returned the smile and nodded, gave a bow as well and made her way towards the door, cell phone in hand, coat pressed closely against her body.
O--O--O--O--O
Haruka frowned. Now that she thought about it, the ending of their second meeting was so distant and cold that it seemed like it would have been their last.
Glancing up, she softly smiled at the playing violinist looking like the meaning of the word perfect in the center of the stage. She could feel the awe radiating around her from the audience; emotions filled to brim of very random feelings: astonishment, wonder…jealousy. She could tell that they always saw the woman Michiru wanted them to see—the perfect side of her…her stage presence. She doubted if anyone, even her manager, has seen the side of her she had witnessed on the day of their third meeting.
O--O
Per usual, Trine on Saturday was unusually full, but it seemed to lose some of its wonder to her because of the missing figure of the violinist.
Haruka sighed.
She knew Michiru wouldn't be there, but at least it didn't seem so lonely when she was speaking with her. And this realization made her snicker out loud. She went to Trine for the sole reason of wanting some isolation and, in a complete turnaround, actually missed the presence of someone there. She laughed to herself and sat down on the bar, a condescending smirk planted on her handsome face. The bartender bowed to her and immediately began to prepare her drink.
"No company tonight?" he asked conversationally.
The young CEO shook her head. "Flying solo tonight."
He laughed a little and handed her, her yellowish colored drink.
She stayed there for the better half of an hour in quiet contemplation and isolation, letting the noise of the people around her wash over her entirely. She thought over of a meeting with a big name company come Monday morning that would be taking her complete attention for at least the next two months.
Taking a last sip of her drink, she waved goodbye to the busy bartender and began taking her leave, putting some money on the table before making her way to the coat hanger. Shrugging her coat on, she passively stared at some people that had just arrived, but what caught her attention more was a familiar, solitary figure outside.
What is she doing here?
Quickly slinging her scarf around her neck, she wove through the throng of people coming in and pushed the door aside, a cold wind immediately inviting her presence. As her yellow strands danced across her face wildly, she frowned at the vision of the violinist that was all the more clearer.
It was cold…she looked cold. She wore the same long, white leather coat she wore on their first meeting and what seemed to be a dress—Haruka could only see a little of her creamy colored shins and ankles before the coat protected the rest of her. Her arms hugged her body tightly, the wind blowing her hair away from her face and she seemed to be looking more towards the road instead of the bar…maybe opting to go instead of stay.
With her frown deepening, Haruka strode to her, taking her coat off in unison. Even before her presence was known she had already placed the coat on the surprised woman making the blonde worry about her state of mind even more.
Something really bad must've just happened.
"Let's go," she stated softly and grabbed her keys from her pants pockets.
She held Michiru by the small of her back and led her to her Ferrari. Unlocking the doors, she opened the passenger's side first and helped her in before closing the door. She looked at her worriedly from the outside before sighing and making her way to the driver's side. Going in, she welcomed the warmth that had been clogged inside the sports car and turned the ignition key on, the catalyst that would wake Michiru from her reverie.
"W-where are we going?"
They locked eyes for a moment troubled dark green ones and unfathomable sadness filled sapphires before Haruka gave a warm smile. "I'm guessing you don't want to go home so let's go to mine."
Michiru nodded, Haruka seeing the apprehension in her eyes before indifference replaced them. Backing out of the parking lot and into the almost deserted street, Haruka drove them away from the city to her beach house opting for the quietness she figured the other woman needed.
The drive was quiet. The blonde didn't even bother to put any music on because it would probably just cause more unwanted tension. Glancing with her peripherals she noted that Michiru seemed to be in deep thought, the crease created by her eyebrows never leaving. She had a pretty good guess as to what had happened…What Michiru thought she could do about it, she didn't know.
The softness of the sand against her tires made her company raise her head higher, her eyes looking at the sand before them instead of the dashboard. Haruka had come here before going to Trine so there looked to be some semblance of life inside the small white beach house. Parking her car in front of it, she gave a smile to the violinist and went out, making her way around to the passenger's side to open the door. Michiru gave a little bow to her kindness as she stepped out and finally followed her into her warm abode.
It felt cozy inside, a warm fireplace crackling it with life. It was an open style floor plan which gave no walls for boundaries. Instead the walls seemed like the floors themselves. The kitchen to their left had white tiles for floors which gave way to cherry wooden planks that enveloped the living area. It was bigger than how it looked outside with two loveseats and a recliner situated around the fireplace and a black baby grand piano further away. It was very neat and tidy.
"The bathrooms are upstairs?" Michiru inquired randomly as she curved her head slightly to peak at the stairs at the farthest end of the living room.
"Yeah," Haruka answered and took off her scarf. "There are two bathrooms upstairs…one in the master bedroom and another down the hallway near the guest bedroom."
She stepped towards her and helped her take her coat off as well as the one Haruka had given her earlier. The blonde smiled appreciatively at the silk blue dress that she wore that hugged her curves expertly.
"What was the occasion?" she asked nodding at the dress.
Michiru looked down at her dress morosely and gave a wry laugh. "I guess…to celebrate my parents' divorce."
Silence engulfed the room, Haruka frowning sullenly at the news she had already suspected and Michiru's wry, almost sarcastic smile never leaving.
"Are you okay?"
"It's passed due…as I said before," the violinist stated loudly as she looked up to her. "I expected it…so it shouldn't come as a big deal—
"Knowing it's going to happen and knowing how you're supposed to feel are two completely different things," Haruka cut off. Sapphire eyes first filled with rebellious indifference began to brim with frustrated tears causing her to look away. "We always tell ourselves to be ready…so we don't get hurt as much. Make ourselves believe in something that we know isn't true to fool our feelings. It's the brain deceiving the heart I guess…but when it comes down to it we feel with our heart, not with our head so all that's left afterwards is the sad truth."
A silence engulfed her almost sage words before Michiru's shoulders began shaking, hot tears finding their way out. Leaning forward, her forehead landed on Haruka's right shoulder, small, quiet cries of agony wracking out of her body. The blonde swallowed hard and shut her eyes, the feeling of overwhelming sadness beginning to take her too. Her fists tightened as the violinist's cries pervaded the small room and her heart clenched even more so when she felt her clasp her dress shirt with her hands, clutching to it like a lifeline.
Almost immediately, she could hear them…the voices from her past.
"We have diagnosed him with lung cancer. He has barely a year to live. We can start a standardized treatment regimen called chemotherapy, but he refused to even listen about what it could do to make his condition better."
"Oh, Haruka-chan…I just don't know what I would do if he wasn't here. Nothing would seem right."
"Haruka…I'm not going to make it any further. I was hoping I could be more of a father to you than I've been in the past but…What I'm going to say is going to be unfair, especially for you, but I have to say it. It would be my wish…for you to attend college and major in business…continue on what your mother and I have built. I know it's not what you've had in mind regarding your future, but I will be selfish this one time and ask this of you. I've been a lenient parent. I've done all the things I could do in order to secure your future. Continue our legacy and we'd be even."
Haruka opened her eyes as anger, hatred, and unadulterated sadness washed over her entire being. Her hands had compressed into such tight fists that they had gone pale white and she could almost feel the incision her nails made against her palms. With jaws clenched and the overbearing feeling of the start of tears brimming against her eyes, she slowly slackened her fists even though her heart still pounded with sorrowful pain. Looking at the still crying woman before her, she morosely put her arms around her shoulders and enveloped her in.
Caressing Michiru's soft hair with her right hand she looked at the piano in front of her before her dammed tears broke out, her silent reprieve vanishing with it.
They stayed in that quiet, mournful contemplation for a while before the violinist was the one to move with a raise and turn of her head to look at the identical face Haruka sported. They stared sadly at one another, trails of where tears had passed through their face still imminent from the dim lighting the fireplace emitted, before the blonde slowly rose her head up and kissed Michiru's temple.
The violinist only smiled amidst her melancholy, resting her cheek against Haruka's shoulder once more.
"Come," the young CEO's husky voice stated and gave a small push to the direction of the piano.
Arms still around her shoulders Michiru let herself be guided to the standing instrument until they stood right in front of it.
Standing behind her, Haruka deftly lifted the lid of the piano up and rested her chin atop the violinist's exposed, creamy shoulder. Michiru looked at her questioningly until vibrant, masterful, and an obviously difficult composition permeated the room. Even without her right hand playing the notes that would've been on the bass clef of the music sheet this composition came from, Michiru was awed at how fantastically she played. It went on for a half a minute, Haruka's show of artistry, before she stopped completely in the middle of it causing the smaller woman to look at her in question and disappointment.
Haruka gave a small smile, locking eyes with her as she did so. "There are always things…circumstances beyond your control. But what I can confidently tell you is…that choosing the piano over the violin would not have made a difference."
Michiru closed her eyes and smiled at the honest truth Haruka brought her. When she opened them again, the soft emerald eyes glancing at her was all she needed to make up her mind. Turning, she faced the blonde and placed her arms around her broad shoulders, feeling the taller woman's hands rest on the small of her back. Standing on her toes, she stretched her neck upward, letting Haruka come down the rest of the way.
Their kiss started off slowly, as if both were testing the waters as to how far they should go. Then, with just impulses guiding them, it became needier gradually, both holding one another tightly at the conclusion of it.
With their breaths abating, Haruka looked down at her in confusion, her eyes speaking the words she couldn't ask out loud.
What do you want from me?
Michiru looked at her in melancholy before looking down at her crumpled dress shirt. Taking her arms off her shoulders, she replaced them by her waist before looking back up, a determined and definite look laced in her eyes.
"Make me stop from feeling this way."
Locking eyes with her sadly for a moment, Haruka caressed her cheeks before closing hers and coming back down to kiss her.
She couldn't deny the fact that she was highly attracted to the smaller woman. Ever since the first time she saw her at Trine she knew she was attracted; she wouldn't have made so many passes if that wasn't the case. And her music might've been as dazzling as her picture in the front of her popular albums, but the real thing in front of her…in her hands, made the feelings that had become dormant in her fire to life.
She couldn't remember how they had made their way upstairs. Nor could she remember clearly how they got to her bedroom. What she does remember vividly is the two of them on her bed, the violinist below her and her on top, and the way Michiru's curly hair cascaded all over her pillow. She was staring at her with the most clearest…almost innocent expression that she definitely had to stop herself from continuing her kisses.
Her hormones were jumping to the roof and all she really, really wanted was to take the woman in front of her and have her way with her…but she would not have a "mistake" night. Closing her eyes to repress the overflowing feelings inside her, she rested her forehead against the laying woman's and opened them slowly making their eyes lock effectively yet again.
After several moments with her searching for any doubt or apprehension in Michiru's eyes, she asked, "Are you sure? I don't want a date rape case against me."
The violinist laughed loudly causing the blonde to smile at her familiar, relaxed features. Before she could supply the answer Haruka seemed to be looking for, the taller woman had already dipped down to her again, initiating another deep kiss before trailing her mouth down her neck.
She smelled good. She tasted good. And the silky dress…had to go. Stopping her ministrations on the smaller woman's creamy flesh, she propped herself higher and began the arduous task of pulling the god forsaken thing off. The battle with it seemed to be her downfall. Oh she hated dresses. Michiru looked beautiful in it…but damn she hated dresses. Why were they so hard to pull when they looked so…fragile?
Michiru's laugh brought her out of her concentration, a deep frown etched entirely on her features. The violinist smiled softly at her and made to straighten the creases her eyebrows had made from slight irritation.
"Why do you women like to wear these god forsaken death traps??" she asked inquiringly and pulled a part of the dress that made a slight ripping noise.
Surprised and afraid that she may have destroyed it, she completely let go of it and backed away.
"Haruka," Michiru called with laughter in her voice. She crawled to her in the bottom of the big king sized bed and expertly slid the dress off as she made her way to her. "Never knew someone like you could be such a…butter finger."
The blonde smirked. "I'll show you butter finger…" she grunted and pushed her playfully on the bed, her back to the cool covers yet again.
Taking the dress off…was a fantastic idea. Haruka swallowed hard and audibly as she looked down at the beautiful figure beneath her. She rubbed the sides of her stomach where the dress had efficiently hidden her nicer curves than she thought weren't there, trailing kisses along her collarbone as she did so. Gasps elicited from the smaller woman causing her to eye at the black strapless bra and matching black panties that were the only clothes left on her.
"Are you going to be able to pull those off or are you going to need my help with that too?"
The playful statement included with a challenging smirk caused Haruka to look up at twinkling sapphire eyes. With a smirk of her own, she casually and easily pushed the bra upwards and took one of the pink buds in her mouth in very quick succession.