Chapter Four: The Flower that Bloomed Surreptitiously
As promised, Haruka woke up the next morning void of the feeling of warmth and contentedness she felt the night before. She spread eagled on her bed and sighed tiredly, squinting at the clock that read just after twelve in the afternoon.
She grunted.
She usually didn't get up so late, but last night was taxing for one thing and second, it was her day off. Feeling the goose bumps rise through her entire, still naked, figure she sat up tiredly and stretched languorously. Brushing her hair back she walked to the bed stand and grabbed her effectively silenced cell phone.
Fifteen missed calls.
She cursed. "What the hell do they want?" she asked to no one in particular and went down the list of who called: at least two from each of the five Board of Directors and five from her secretary. She fought with herself for a moment on whether or not she should call back or just ignore them all. Pursing her lips and clenching her jaw, she punched a few keys to recall her secretary.
"Hello?"
"What do you want?"
"Good afternoon to you too, Tenoh-san," the old woman answered calmly.
"Don't play around with me Yuki," she growled. "What the hell do all of you want?"
"There's someone here in the office that wants to talk to you personally Chairman. You should get here quickly for he is a prominent member of the community and he's been waiting for the better part of the hour."
Haruka felt like throwing her phone to the wall. "Tch, let him wait. I need a shower and I'll come there at my leisure. If he can't deal with it, it's not my problem."
She hung up without hearing or caring for a reply and threw her phone on the unmade bed. Massaging her temples roughly, she trekked to the bathroom and literally kicked the shower on.
A half an hour later she had successfully put on a fully black pinstriped power suit and was groomed properly. She glanced at the mess she and Michiru made and picked up her necessities for the day, namely her cell phone, wallet, and car keys and left her beach house in disarray.
She was annoyed…to say the least.
If this happened on any other weekend prior to this one she felt it would've been okay. But the hectic week she had to endure with her coworkers had left her drained and more than that, irritated. They all needed to go die in a fire…especially this "prominent community member" who probably only had the money to back such a wonderful title. Thinking back to her time last night with the more "prominent" population of Tokyo, she almost wanted to drive her Ferrari into the beach, with her locked inside and the windows opened about an inch wide to let air (water) in. She could only imagine it being another foreigner.
"TCH…" she grunted loudly and peeled out of her property, already missing the appealing sound of the waves washing behind her.
Her mood only darkened when she reached her private parking spot, Board of Director member, Shizu Miike waiting for her with the most annoying look she's ever seen him sport.
Getting out of her car, she saw him open his mouth before stating loudly, "If you have the gut feeling that whatever you're going to say to me right now is going to be the last thing you'll ever say I'd advise you to shut it, 'cuz I'm not taking anything today."
The fat, short man closed it rather quickly at hearing such an irate statement and swallowed audibly. "It's just very late—
"And don't say things I know already," Haruka grunted. She strode passed him towards the elevator and swiped a special keycard that opened the elevator shaft almost immediately. Turning to the still standing man she eyed him dangerously and without blinking steadily replied, "Don't ever meet me here again with the thoughts of drilling things into my head. I don't know whether you got the short end of the stick among the Board today to have to meet me down here, but all of you know better. You may think I'm a child… all of you may think I don't want to be here. And maybe you're all right, but I'm still here. Out of obligation or pride, it doesn't matter. But as long as I'm here stick anything you have to say up your ass…because I don't care about it."
She jabbed the only button accessible on the panel, letting the door close between them. The day had already started off so nicely…
Thirty seconds later, the door opened to her floor, her secretary looking up from her work before standing up and giving her a bow. "He's still inside. Please be your same charming self."
Haruka sighed and rolled her eyes before opening the big heavy doors to her office. He must really think highly of himself to voluntarily step into my office to wait…
She concluded that she didn't like him already.
Looking straight forward she almost stopped in her tracks as she met with familiar clear sapphire eyes.
"Good afternoon Tenoh-san."
Her lips pursed involuntarily before she gave a tiny bow. "Kaioh-san, good afternoon."
It was clear where Michiru got a lot of her looks from although it was obvious Kaioh Shinji wasn't even close to the gender of a woman. He stood a couple inches shorter than the blonde at five feet ten and wore a three piece suit adorned with a pearly white tie. His hair was cut short, tufts of curls sticking out from its slicked back style and he wore a sophisticated, clean cut goatee. He looked young for someone who was from the older generation which got Haruka asking exactly what age he married the female Kaioh and when Michiru was conceived.
"I'm sorry for the wait. I didn't realize I would be working overtime today," she stated easily and walked passed him and towards her chair. She sat down and motioned for him to do so as well not liking the bit of electricity beginning to formulate inside the room. "So, let's get down to business then seeing as I've practically destroyed your entire morning. To what do I owe this pleasure?"
Per usual she kept the conversation to a strict formality, her words never really reaching her eyes for if they did, emerald orbs would scream sarcasm.
Shinji gave a small smirk and gave a nod. "I need a condo…a new residential you could say."
Haruka nodded as she attempted to bring out the list of open condominiums under Tenoh Corporation. "Not to intrude, but may I ask what's wrong with your estate?" She locked eyes with him as if daring him to answer and then gave a small smile herself. "If you don't feel like answering that's fine too. I just need time to reboot the system so I tend to carry useless conversations to make it seem faster."
The older man gave a rough laugh and nodded. "You are every bit as they say you are."
The blonde fiddled with the keyboard as she gave him a questioning glance. "They?"
"People," Shinji stated rather easily. "We might not be under the same kind of business, but we do deal with the same people. Word gets around of the more…memorable personas and this is why I'm here today."
Haruka stared evenly at him as a short tune of the rebooted system filled the air momentarily. "Lantern's probably in the same boat as us—
She cut herself off as the elder Kaioh gave another laugh. "You sound as if you don't want me here Tenoh-san."
The young CEO merely shrugged. "I don't mind you here Kaioh-san," she said easily. "I just want to know why me and not Richie Fields?"
Richie Fields was the Japanese culture educated American who was CEO of Lantern Corporation. Out of all the companies that dealt with the selling, buying, and building of well…buildings, they were at the top rivalry position against Tenoh Corp.
"You could say I don't trust American companies in Japanese soil."
It was a fair enough answer, one she's gotten numerous times before when she asked. Bringing the data base to the speed of the present, she finally checked her list of empty or otherwise vacant penthouse suites and stated, "Penthouse A is available for both The Renaissance and Royal and Penthouse C is available in the Courier. They will come fully furnished unless you'd rather not have what we've put in the suites prior, in which time we will take out whatever doesn't suit your taste and replace it with anything that does with the exception that it's of lesser or equal value of the items taken out.
"Penthouse A for the Royal is more of a modern styled condo complete with electronic devices and gadgets familiar today. The penthouse atop Renaissance is more old fashioned…a kind of," she snickered against her will. "Renaissance feel…you could say. Penthouse C in the Courier is one of our unabashed arrogance suites in which the entire floor is made up entirely of any color gold you can think of as well as any color diamond you can think of. There are other choices, but I doubt someone of your stature and…prominence would care much about them."
Shinji gave a smirk. "How much do I have to give in order for you to give me a personal tour on all the suites today? I seemed to have ruined your day off and I wanted to make it worth your while you could say."
Getting up, Haruka pocketed her hands and replied, "Trust me Kaioh-san, you'd be doing me a favor by getting me out of here."
They shared a somewhat fake smile before Shinji got up as well and started heading out the door, the blonde trailing him soon after.
Going out Haruka looked at her secretary and stated evenly, "If the Board asks I'm out showing Kaioh-san the vacant suites. If anyone else comes in today and asks for me, tell them to wait in my office and expect me on Monday."
Shinji laughed heartily as Yuki gave an obedient nod.
They strode to one of the normal elevators and went in right as the door opened. Poking at the right button to lead them to the first floor, the older man gave a look of apology. "Sorry if I interrupted an important matter today—
Haruka shook her head as if it became an already automatic response. "The important matter was lounging in my beach house all day. If anything I just like these weekends off because I don't have to deal with…coworkers."
The elder Kaioh nodded as if he knew exactly what the blonde was talking about. "Oh, but to answer your question earlier…about the problems with my estate, there is none."
"Buying ten billion plus yen suites became your new hobby?"
Shinji smiled. "Believe it or not, the space has become somewhat cramped." She could only imagine how a 20,000 square foot estate could become cramped, but she had a fairly good guess as to why. "You don't seem like a gossiping type Tenoh-san. I must say it's one of your more endearing traits."
"Gossiping is a waste of time," Haruka said simply and added a shrug for good measure.
"Then I guess you didn't know that my wife and I had our official divorce a month ago."
The door gave a tiny beep as it opened while the blonde gave a tiny apologetic bow. "I'm sorry to hear that Kaioh-san."
The old man waved her apology easily. "It was a mutual agreement, but you can see that as much as neither of us wants to live in the estate, neither of us will yield it as well. And the divorce has already been such a big deal that neither of us wants to put anymore court time or lawful interference into something both of us could come to an agreement on so…"
Haruka nodded understandingly as they both left the elevator. "It would probably be a good idea to maintain that kind of connection anyway…"
Shinji gave him an odd look before asking, "Why do you think that?"
"Well, a house is a place with a lot of memories. Whether they're good or bad isn't what matters—moreover the value placed in them. Neither of you would fight for something you didn't think mattered, and seeing as mathematically, architecturally, and price range-wise it has the resemblance of most modern day estates, the only real thing important about it is what you've shared inside.
"You probably already know that one of the more off handed techniques when dealing with new clients is to play with them emotionally…make them feel as if you know them so well that in the end, all they can really think about is not the fact that they would want someone else's opinion, but whether or not they care enough about what they want. You and Kaioh-san know what you want…it's just a matter of being in the same page and agreeing with one another about it."
The aqua haired man gave a thoughtful look at what she just said and gave a smile. "Would I be placed in the new client category Tenoh-san?"
Haruka smirked as fresh wind greeted them outside. She noticed a parked limo at the bottom of the descending steps and concluded that it must've belonged to his company. "I doubt I would've said that to anyone I deemed smart enough to know the difference so no, I haven't nor would put you on the new client category. We both know you're looking for something that's somewhat of a necessity right now so playing with how you feel would probably be a dumb choice anyway."
Shinji laughed. "Has that tactlessness of yours ever gotten you in serious trouble?"
The blonde shrugged, following the older man inside the waiting limo. "I guess not since no event's coming to mind," she said and sat down a few feet away from him. "I guess it's one of the reasons why notoriety isn't such a bad thing…people know of the lines drawn and what I can be capable of if push ever does come to shove."
They shared their first mutual look of respect before Shinji gave a look to his chauffeur and stated, "Renaissance, Royal, and Courier. Whichever one's closer is fine by me."
He received an obedient, "Yes, sir," before the tinted windows separating the driver's side and the back slid up.
"Speaking of notoriety," the older man continued. "I met your father once in a charity gala."
Hearing this piqued Haruka's interest a bit as she gave him her undivided attention.
"I think the most memorable part about him was when he singled me out in front of the whole table during the dinner party. We were speaking about the luck of a few new entrepreneurs during that time and he must've taken some offense in it because he openly declared over the entire table that at least he and your mother weren't like everyone else who gave nothing to be where they were now…a sort of old money versus new money generation kind of talk.
"I think he looked at me then because I happened to be one of the more notorious old money descendants and stated to me directly that give or take several years and he'll own my company. That the ability of being able to do that was the clear difference between the old money generation and the new money generation."
Haruka laughed brashly and shook her head in a kind of disbelief. She could definitely see her late father doing something challenging like that. "I hope you didn't take it too personally. My father spoke out of his ass sometimes…"
Shinji gave a rough laugh as well and patted Haruka's shoulders. "No, of course not. I treated it as drunken talk since a lot of us had already drank a fair share by that time, but it was that stand-alone moment that's forever engraved in my mind as to what I should be expecting to deal with when it came to anyone with the Tenoh surname. And I wasn't surprised at all when I heard that you shared your father's demeanor. If anything, it made me even more curious to see if my circle of opinionated 'friends' was right."
O--O
It took the better half of the day for Haruka to realize that although Kaioh Shinji had an almost irritating confident demeanor in him, he was an all around okay guy. If anything, the blonde could almost see her own self in him, from his knowingly self-assured smirk to his, as exasperating, swagger.
Simply to say, he doesn't really act his age. Haruka wondered if he was any different when he was around his daughter and kind of understood now how his marriage could have failed, if Mrs. Kaioh was any different from him.
"Now this place…is the most like me!"
Penthouse C of the Courier, the last of the three they visited, was, as Haruka noted earlier, for the more blatantly showy and obviously rich individual. It was a 4,250 square feet condominium with high walls and ceilings made up of entirely gold. Rich scarlet curtains hung proudly against arched windows on eighteen karat golden rods and the floors were made of solid marble.
The condo was divided into two bedrooms, three full bathrooms, a recreation room, a living room, dining room, and kitchen. As Haruka promised, it came fully furnished with the newest furniture that fit the motif of the condo finely, some of the decorations even made of more gold and diamonds. It also had a modern feel, an arrogant combination of the two penthouses from the Renaissance and Royal that they both had already seen.
"A lot of people had already taken a look at it, but as you can tell it's fitted for very specific individuals," Haruka stated as they both sat down on separate ends of a sectional black leather sofa.
Shinji smirked as he looked around, stroking his goatee as he did so. "Do you think it fits me?"
The blonde glanced a bit at the high ceilings and noted the special glint the gold made. "It's crass, bold, and outspoken…arrogant to say the least. It screams, not says, but screams… 'I'm rich…and I know it.'" She nodded. "Yeah, I'd say it fits you."
The elder Kaioh laughed loudly as he gave a slap to his knee. "Alright…alright. Give me a week to think about it. I kind of liked the other penthouses too so…"
Haruka let him trail off as she gave a nod. Getting up they both shook hands as Shinji kept a firm grip on hers. Looking at the clock that read just after six in the evening, he stated, "Have dinner with me. I'm pretty sure you'll make good company tonight."
The young CEO immediately gave an unsure look causing Shinji to give another loud laugh. "Come on…you're better company than a lot of people give you credit for. Sure you're kind of surly at first…sarcastic, definitely. But you're confident…reminds me of me the first time I came into this business. I insist that you join me for dinner…let's say I owe you."
Haruka hated it when she couldn't say no…I could say that I have a prior engagement…with his daughter…She laughed inwardly, but it was this trail of thought that ended with her nodding. "Alright, I'm hungry anyway."
They exited Penthouse C of the Courier and rode the elevator down to the elder Kaioh's always waiting limo. Inside, he gave the name of the restaurant they would be having dinner at to his chauffeur as his cell phone rang out.
"Yes?" he answered.
Haruka kept an open ear as the car rolled into the streets, giving a last look at the seventy three feet building her father and mother created.
"Yeah, I'm coming…probably ten minutes—we're pretty close…alright see you in a bit." He hung up as the blonde looked at him evenly.
"Are you sure I won't be interrupting anything important?"
Shinji just shook his head. "Nah, if anything you'll be relieving the monotony a bit."
Haruka gave a questioning look, but chose to remain quiet. She reminded herself to just get in, get out, and laugh about it with Michiru later when they were alone. Stuck in her reverie, she didn't realize they had stopped until the elder Kaioh stated a, "We're here" and the door quickly opened thereafter.
The young CEO got out of the car and looked up at Sushi-ko, a fancy and very expensive sushi restaurant in the middle of Ginza. She followed Shinji slowly, causally putting her hands in her pockets and looking very handsomely as she did so. He spoke to the cute maitre d' for a second making Haruka roll her eyes surreptitiously before he led them to the main restaurant where only a total of eleven spaces to sit stood and, to her surprise, a smaller makeshift table in the side normally not seen in the establishment. It was also what waited them here that made her wish she didn't take his invitation for dinner.
"So this is where you were all day."
The strict voice of the elder female Kaioh made her flinch inwardly, but even more-so was the visibly surprised look their only daughter was giving her. Turning to the only male Kaioh in the suddenly too stuffy room she asked with a nauseated look, "Is it…the second Saturday of the month?"
Shinji gave her a questioning look before giving a smile to his ex-wife and daughter. "Sorry I'm late, but I was spending time with Tenoh-san all day and," turning to his ex-wife he continued, "You should really check out the Renaissance's Penthouse A. I think you'll really like it."
Shina looked as if she could care less and glanced at Haruka before saying so insensitively, "Maybe next time you should take your lover here instead."
The aqua haired man gave a drawn out sigh and sat on the sturdy low rise back stool across the older woman. Turning to a blankly staring Haruka, he stated, "Sit down Tenoh-san, and don't mind my ex-wife. She's quick to hiss, but doesn't bite…"
Every nerve in her body was telling her to leave. She shouldn't have taken the elder male Kaioh's invitation to dinner in the first place…
What the hell was I thinking?
Glancing at an unreadable expression Michiru was currently sporting she looked away instead and steadily replied, "I should go."
"Nonsense," Shinji said loudly and with authority this time. "It doesn't make sense for you to come all this way and not eat. Please…sit down."
Although the "please" was added, she knew it was moreover forced, adding to the irked feeling that was already close to completely gnawing her. She was annoyed…and usually, she would've declared it so loudly by now—with actions or words, although they do say actions spoke louder. Nevertheless, she would've expressed it by now…if the people she was declaring to weren't such…prominent members of the community… Unfortunately, even she knew what lines to tread, and more importantly, what not to step into.
So instead of saying she would rather choke on nails than stay any longer in the same room with the woman she's been furtively sleeping with and her parents, she only gave what looked to be a tired smile.
Eyeing Shinji, she brushed her hair back in what she hoped appeared like a casual action, instead of irritation and stated, "I know when to fold Kaioh-san. Thank you for the day and I hope I'll see you again about any of the properties you may have liked—
"Please stay." Her attention curved to Michiru who spoke suddenly and probably out of turn. Everyone stared at her as she evenly eyed the blonde. "Tenoh-san."
Haruka bit the side of her mouth as she noted the still unreadable look graced on the violinist's face.
Is she serious?
She could only wonder why the other girl would want her to stay for a dinner she was sure wasn't going to get any better, but now she realized that there was no way she could leave…seeing as no one in the table had said otherwise. Slowly nodding and with a deeper frown marring her face, she pulled the stool from across the smaller girl and joined them as a waiter came in.
"Oh Tenoh-san, I don't believe you've met my daughter—
"We've met," Michiru cut off. Her father and mother looked at her as she gave an even look. "She was one of my sponsors from last night's charity event."
"Oh…you don't strike me as a classical music listener Tenoh-san," Shinji stated with a smile and noted that their personal sushi chef had arrived as well.
Haruka nodded. "I am," she answered quietly as she felt the elder female Kaioh staring daggers at her.
Eyeing her peripherals momentarily, she found that, said woman definitely was glowering at her, making her bite back irritated, albeit nervous coherent and long sentences. She could feel her heart palpitating a bit as a kind of sinister silence followed their rather forced conversation.
"One of you will choke on your food if this kind of aura is continued in my restaurant…" the chef stated loudly as he stood behind the counter of the main bar. The waiter only stood beside him sheepishly.
Shinji smirked as Shina cleared her throat softly, taking her eyes off the blonde momentarily and glancing at their familiar chef. "Sorry Kakeru-san…Shinji's lack of tact doesn't help matters at times."
Haruka inwardly sighed again. This…definitely wasn't looking good… She gave a brief look at Shinji whose smirk had gone to a downward spiral.
"And what the hell did I do this time?" he asked forcibly.
The long haired woman matched his stare, her gray eyes turning in slits as she stated, "How long have we been doing this Shinji? These little dinners have been a family matter for years now and as always you find a way to mess it up—
"Oh geez—
"We may be divorced—
"Cut the crap Shina—
"Stop…" For the second time that night, everyone looked at Michiru who uttered the word as if she's been playing mediator forever. It wasn't in exasperation…moreover tired and just a little depressed. "Chino-san I'd like some sake please and give some to Tenoh-san too. I'm sure my father must've tired her out."
They shared a small look as the violinist gave an obviously fake smile at her direction before the chef nodded and pulled a filleted salmon from inside the small refrigerator next to him.
"And you Kaioh-san? Kaioh-san?" he asked addressing the two was-married couple who were both busying themselves with their drinks, tea for Shina and hot sake for Shinji.
"Michiru-chan…why do you always grab the sake first?" the aqua haired man asked playfully, seemingly able to get out of the tense clash rather easily. "Ootoro…of course Kakeru-san."
"I will as well Kakeru-san." His ex-wife ordered right behind him. Turning to Haruka she asked quickly, "Tenoh-san, would you like anything to drink?"
The blonde took a quick note of her emotionless question and just nodded. "Water will be fine."
The waiter gave it to her as she kept an even stare with the female Kaioh.
She sported the same creamy skin tone as Michiru, her would-be long and wavy blue hair fitted in a tight bun. She wore a dark blue kimono with lotuses printed all over it and she probably stood at five feet five inches. What was most notable about her were her facial features. Her face spoke only of utter strictness, her lips in an automatic purse and her eyebrows in a never tiring frown. And her eyes…her eyes were a cold, calculating gray.
Haruka finally broke their eye contact as she closed them momentarily in stress and frustration, and stood back up. She gathered the attention of everyone in the room as she faced the elder female Kaioh and bowed…lower than she's had to, to anyone she's ever greeted in that manner.
Punching her pride aside, she stated in what she hoped to be a sincere apology. "I'm sorry for intervening in your obviously important dinner Kaioh-san. Believe me when I say that if I knew what I would be interfering in tonight, I would've flatly declined Kaioh-san's invitation."
She hated this…bowing to someone—anyone. But she now had a clear idea as to why Michiru came to her every weekend if what she saw tonight, in the matter of only ten or so minutes, was any indication of even the smallest things the violinist had to go through every time she met up with her parents, so she felt bowing was a justified move…and partially because it was the second Saturday of the month and she failed to remember the fact…
It's a wonder why she was so emo last night…
She kept her eyes to the ground until Shina finally stated, "I don't blame you Tenoh-san. I'm pretty sure my ex-husband's all to blame. Sit down and eat…I'd like to thank you for having an interest in my daughter's music."
Haruka raised her eyes to meet the same cold look as she nodded and sat back down, two sake nigiri waiting for her. "She didn't disappoint last night. The venue was packed and I doubt a single spectator went home displeased," she said easily, but only because she truly meant it.
Michiru gave a small smile at the compliment that she felt was well deserved and hid it stealthily by drinking her tea.
"Should I be worried of your fangirlism Tenoh-san?" Shinji asked crassly with a wide and obviously joking smirk atop his sculpted face.
The violinist choked on her tea and gave an unladylike cough, as the words dribbled from the elder male Kaioh's mouth. Her father gave a nervous look as he patted her from behind.
"Otou-san, don't say such crass things to my sponsors…" she stated in exasperation as she wiped the sides of her mouth. She looked up at a smirking Haruka who just popped one of the sake in her mouth and began chewing it, not meeting her eyes properly.
"Shinji, do not act as if you condone such things and think before you speak for once," Shina suddenly spat, her eyes turning into slits again as the aqua haired man mirrored the same look almost automatically.
"Will you relax…for two seconds?" he yelled in what seemed like an exasperated order. "It's just one damn night that we voluntarily have to talk to each other for this family's sake and you can't keep your panties out of a twist!"
They stared daggers at each other then, a silence engulfing the room that was much darker than the previous ones pervading it. It was also then that Haruka and Michiru truly looked at each other…and all the blonde really wanted to do was take her away.
She could see the watering of her eyes, the tiredness that spoke in volumes coming out of them.
This divorce…hadn't changed a damn thing. And now she could really see it.
Ever since the beginning of their "relationship" she hadn't seen the same forlorn and weak Michiru. They hadn't spoken about her parents again since…which only caused her to think that although they had legally and officially separated, the situation had become better. And she would've continued to keep thinking that until the violinist openly sought guidance to her or merely spoke about it. But no…she hadn't been given any indications whatsoever that it had turned for the worst. And only until now had she noticed how well guarded and how well played Michiru's mask had become.
She knew prior to even bedding the smaller woman that they were both masters at hiding their feelings…and that small detail slipped from her. She had completely forgotten that minute, but important fact. She wanted to kick herself.
She didn't want to say she felt responsible for knowing whether or not Michiru was okay in her personal life…just that she should've been. Both of them had their problems...she knew that too well—the stress from both of their work, the people they dealt with, and the many people that expected too much from them…all this was a given "problem". This was the main reason why they turned to each other. But even this, the cold and uncaring way her parents treated something that was obviously still so very important to her…this was unforgivable.
Looking up at the other woman's face, the mask…the well played mask…had finally begun deteriorating…and the feeling of not being able to do anything about it…hurt her. She knew she wasn't obligated to make Michiru feel better, but she also knew that she somehow should've been able to do something…not because they've been sharing a bed…but because she cared. Regardless of her nonchalance concerning their relationship, she cared…and she couldn't bear to see such silent agony wracking out of the smaller woman's frame. And it only took a second's observation to notice that her parents either didn't care or didn't take notice at all of her feelings.
An unfamiliar twinge leapt at her heart right then causing her to wince at the abrupt and painful feeling. Looking up at sapphire eyes that only remained dejectedly downcast, this painful sensation grew until Haruka could feel the start of tears damming the tips of her eyes as well, mirroring the sentiment in front of her. One question remained in the back of her mind…
If it was hurting her this much just to be a bystander looking on to such a sad and distorted family…how did Michiru feel, being a part of it?
Haruka swallowed hard and stood up abruptly, earning surprised looks, once again, from the table. "Thank you for the dinner, but I must excuse myself," she stated in a frozen tone. "Kaioh-san, we'll speak again. It was nice meeting everyone." She wiped the sides of her mouth before letting the napkin fall on the table and, without another glance at a violinist who by then had her eyes painfully shut, exited the room.
Outside the confines of the stuffy restaurant and into the cold spring night, she breathed the heavy air in and pressed her digits roughly against her eyes. In frustration, she angrily pulled the first two buttons off of her expensive black dress shirt and growled out loud, eliciting random responses from the minimal amount of people around her. Grinding her teeth against one another, she faced the right side of the street and took off in a run, feeling the cold air chill her face and especially the sides of her eyes where a smeared trail of tears appeared. She didn't know where she was going…just that her mind needed to be cleared.
A mile into her steady run, she had discarded her black Armani blazer in some receptacle she passed by a half a mile in. Two miles in and she wanted to chuck the fifty thousand yen loafers that were doing a great job making her feet sore to heights of pain she could only remember in high school when she joined the track team. Two and a half miles in and she really did chuck the fifty thousand yen loafers into a lake that she was currently running around—she had found a park a mile and a half into her run.
Breathing heavily and scowling at the eddies the loafers made after she hurled them across the lake, she threw herself down into the damp grass, her angry demeanor not leaving. She tightly closed her eyes as her fists ripped apart several blades of grasses around her
More than anything she was mad. Not at the situation…but moreover herself. Why didn't she see it…that Michiru wasn't okay? Why didn't she see that even though their weekend rendezvous were still in full effect, that her situation hadn't gotten any better? Why couldn't she see it??
Why didn't she tell me...and when did I start caring so much?
This last question literally and figuratively opened her eyes. She looked around her, making sure that there wasn't anyone around that would see her clearly embarrassed look and then chastised herself for doing said action in the first place.
Why did she care?
I care because I don't like to see Michiru hurt…I don't like seeing people get hurt.
Well that was an obvious lie. She blatantly and sometimes purposefully harmed random people just for the kick of it…especially when it dealt with her company and she was in an obviously foul disposition.
It felt like she was waging a war between herself…between two personas…
Her frown deepened as the question rose again. Why do you care?
She scratched her head trying to find the answer...knowing it but still tiptoeing around it.
Why do you care?
'Cuz I care about how Michiru feels…How she feels is important to me…
Keep going…
She began rubbing her temples, feeling the throb of it soar to new heights. She closed her eyes and almost immediately the violinist's depressed, hunched over form appeared…and once again her heart joined her head and began pounding in pain.
She had tried her best within the last two months to not let their relationship become much bigger than it should've been. She had kept the smaller woman close, but at bay by her nonchalant, almost uncaring expressions. She had wanted to show that it was just sex…But the growing feeling that it could've been more had somehow seeded itself in her brain…not because she needed a relationship, but because, like Michiru had said the other night…she had began to look forward to their weekend rendezvous. And not just for the sex…It was a great added bonus, but the feeling she got after…the contentedness of being hugged or hugging someone after all the physicality was over and done with…She had found that it felt better than the overall sexual experience. To her dismay, she grasped that this little realization was just the beginning of the seed's gradual, but steady growth.
Their relationship was different from the get go…It wasn't a simple weekend meet at her cot where they shared a few seconds' conversations, went upstairs, did the deed, and went their separate ways only to do the same thing again the following week. No…they were deeper than that…That by itself must've been the catalyst for the seed's growth into a small, but strong plant. They conversed, they shared exasperations…they acted humanely to one another—if one was troubled, the other genuinely cared.
But most importantly…they hugged and kissed afterwards as if it was a norm in a casual relationship. Maybe in an affair those kinds of actions were suitable, but casual relationships were supposed to be more physical…and less emotional. And these tender touches, words, and actions were the catalysts of the small plant turning into a flower.
The seed of doubt was gone…and in its place was the waking figure of a flower.
Why did she care?
The question only made her laugh wryly, sending her heart to double over in pain.
Michiru's smile flitted through her mind, followed closely by her pouts, her teases, her groans, her moans, her playful irritation, her soft voice, her caring hugs, her deep kisses…her.
Why did she care?
"You'll be able to just turn it off?"
Haruka's frown turned into a defeated, saddened expression. "I'm supposed to be able to, but I don't think I can…" she stated quietly to herself and felt the pounding of her heart deepen.
Why do you care?
Because I love her…and I don't know what I'm supposed to do about it…
O--O
She spent about an hour in the park in quiet contemplation, dusk quickly surrounding her as every minute passed. When it finally got too cold and she had physically smacked herself for throwing both her blazer, because of the fact that it had gotten too cold, and loafers, since her feet hurt like hell, she dialed for someone to get her the car she took to work that day as well as a pair of comfortable running shoes not loafers or anything dressy. It was a wise decision for whoever was in the other line not to question the last suspicious request.
Fifteen minutes later, two bodyguards under the employment of Tenoh Corporation found their CEO in the foulest disposition they've ever seen her sport. She literally snatched the sneakers from their hands and shoved her holey and very dirty dress sock wearing feet inside, grabbing the keys from the other man right after. Without a word of thanks, she got into her Ferrari and drove off, back to her beach house.
When she arrived, she didn't pause to think of her feelings and just started cleaning up. They didn't make as much mess as she thought they did, but she tidied the place extremely well anyways, even going as far as taking out a duster and dusting places her maids probably cleaned every work day they came in.
When downstairs was impeccably clean even for someone with OCD standards, she raced upstairs and began cleaning there as well, starting with the still disarrayed bedroom, to the mess she made in the bathroom before heading to work that afternoon. When she finally stopped was when she could feel the soreness her body had been crying about ever since the headache that started it earlier that day. It had moved to her back, a dull pain kind of pulsating every now and then and steadily moved down to her legs to her feet that were begging her to lie down.
Taking her body's request into consideration, she walked slowly to her bed and flopped face first into the cool blanket, her mouth giving a contended sigh automatically. Her brain stopped spinning in turmoil for a few seconds which was all it took for her to close her eyes and drift off, wondering for a second how the rest of Michiru's dinner went.
O--O--O--O--O
Dinner…had been a horrible affair. Michiru closed her eyes momentarily to clear her thoughts, the small frown not dissipating from her refined features. After Haruka had left, the back and forth banter between her parents escalated to the point that she had been the one to request the stopping of their monthly meetings to which both finally discontinued their war of words.
She sighed. Maybe I really should end it…
She knew they did these dinners for her sake…for the sake of looking or having the semblance of what a normal family felt or seemed like. But after tonight, it didn't seem like it was worth it anymore.
"Was the dinner that bad tonight ojou-sama?"
Looking up to her driver she gave a rueful smile before she cast her eyes back down. "You could say that," she said softly and brushed a tendril of hair back behind her ears automatically.
"I saw Tenoh-san leave the restaurant. She came in with your father as well…" Satoshi stated, giving her a look from the rearview mirror.
She nodded, albeit tiredly. "Apparently my father was looking for a new residence. Speaking of Haruka, tell me you're driving to her place?"
The older man smiled, wrinkles showing from the sides of his eyes. "It's only half past nine…would you like to go there earlier tonight?"
"Yes, please…"
Rubbing her temples with both of her index fingers she sat back in emotional exhaustion and closed her eyes, feeling the car take an immediate U-turn.
To say that she was surprised to see Haruka at dinner was an understatement. To her relief though, she saw how shocked the blonde was to see her as well which dispelled all thoughts of her parents knowing what she's been up to and with who of all people. It wasn't that Haruka was a bad person…if anything, she's been better than any man she's ever dated or had interests on. It was the fact that she was a woman…that they were both women…a double edged sword one would say. Good for her psyche, bad for her reputation.
"Are you afraid that you could be missing out on the one thing that could make you who you are because of…reputation?"
Yes, of course she was. She knew the answer then and Haruka probably guessed the same at the time, but knowing it and actually doing something about it were two completely different things.
Her reputation…was at stake. It couldn't have been any simpler than that. But at the same time, it couldn't have been more complicated.
Was she vain for thinking of her situation like that?
She figured in an outsider's viewpoint, she could've been. But to her, it would be much more than just reputation. That was just scratching the surface. She had never given any indications to anyone— her parents, her manager, her little to no friends…no one. And knowing them, especially her parents, they would not just sit back and smile at her as if she was still their perfect little girl. Add that to her current "problems" and it was just too much.
I will not cause unnecessary stress…not for something so unimportant.
Her feelings…who she was…when seen in the same scope as her life and her parents was just that to her: unimportant. And for now she'll play just as she'd been playing: the same perfect little girl.
She sighed and bit back a tired laugh. At least, right now, she didn't have to be that person…at least for several hours.
A half an hour later and feeling none too rested, Michiru waved goodbye to her chauffeur as she reached for the keys inside her bag. The beach house seemed empty from the outside, but the parked red Ferrari gave the only indication that the blonde was probably inside. Unlocking the heavy wooden door, she stepped inside and noted the cleanliness that sparked in the semi-dark room—the dimmed glow of the dining room's tiny chandelier as the only source of light.
Depositing her coat and bag in the living room, she quietly went upstairs to the master bedroom. A small smile crept to her tired face as she saw an endearing picture of the sleeping blonde. She was definitely cutest in her slumber, Michiru noting this the first time she had woken before the taller woman. Her usually reserved, private and challenging demeanor was gone and its place was the look of an ordinary sleeping child. Yes, Haruka definitely looked like a child when she slept, the creases of worry and stress dissipating from her features completely.
Her smile widened, but fell all too quickly as she finally saw the swelling, blisters and cuts encompassing the blonde's exposed feet. Getting closer, she sat down near it and frowned in obvious worry. That definitely happened after she left the restaurant…
Getting up again she sighed as she looked at Haruka's prone figure. "Oh Haruka…what did you do?" she asked softly and gently got on the bed as well.
She furtively straddled her, noting a frown crease forming on the slowly waking blonde and began massaging her tense shoulders. Emerald orbs opened tiredly as a quirk of a smile accompanied them.
"Michiru?" she asked tiredly, her husky voice eliciting an excited response in her.
Michiru smiled widely and deepened her ministrations. "You're so tense Haruka…"
The young CEO gave a tired sigh as a moan followed it in quick succession. She made to turn on her back, but the violinist wouldn't have any of it and laid on her, cheek resting on her left shoulder. The smaller girl continued kneading her other shoulder as they met each others eyes.
Haruka swallowed before asking, "How're you?"
Michiru gave a tired smile. "I've had better days…" She stopped directly looking at her and paid heed to a spot on the blonde's jaw line instead.
"I am so sorry about what I did tonight—
"There's nothing to be sorry about Haruka…"
But the blonde only shook her head in disagreement, an angry scowl laced on her toned features. "I wanted to smack myself for not remembering…every damn second Saturday…why didn't I remember??"
The violinist stopped her massages and went on to caressing her silky hair, brushing her fingers against and through it. "Whether or not you were there hardly mattered…I've already said how they were to you Haruka…My mother looks for a fight and my father gives it to her. If anything I blame Otou-san for it. He knew what he was doing when he invited you for dinner…he just likes eliciting a response from my mother."
Haruka's eyes became downcast as well making Michiru concerned. She hadn't seen this look from the blonde before. "The divorce…it didn't change anything did it?"
The violinist remained quiet, knowing it was a kind of a rhetorical question.
The blonde smirked amidst her frown. "I couldn't tell at all in these last two months that it hadn't changed anything…I mean, if tonight was any indication of their relationship it's gotten worse—
"I don't want to talk about this." Michiru slowly got off her and sat at the edge of the bed, her insides in turmoil.
She was here right now with her for the sole reason of not wanting to remember this, but the tomboy next to her seemed assertive on talking about it.
Haruka got up as well and sat down, leaning her back against the headboard of the bed. Looking at the smaller woman's back made her sulk all the more. "Is it okay not to talk about this?"
Turning her head to the blonde, the violinist's eyes were suddenly angry. "What's there to talk about Haruka?"
"You!" the blonde yelled. "How you feel! How this situation's—
"How I feel shouldn't matter because we shouldn't be talking about this."
"What should we talk about then? Let's just not talk and have sex all night? Is that all you really, really want?"
"Isn't that our agreement?"
Haruka looked away from her askance eyes and glowered at the walls away from her.
The violinist was confused. They weren't supposed to be having this kind of conversation…
Feeling as if she had to get some things straight between them as well as take out the frustrations that had been imbedding itself within her body all night, she looked at avoiding emerald eyes and frowned deeply.
"Our… 'relationship'… is nothing, but a stress reliever for the both of us," she stated seriously, looking at the taller woman with heated sapphire eyes. "We agreed to it being this way…I can't be with a woman and you were bored. You said, 'It would be fun' and here we are now. When I say there's nothing to talk about, there isn't anything I want to talk about with you. Have I done anything to make you think anything's changed?"
Haruka laughed wryly and shook her head. "No, there isn't." Looking at her again, the blonde sported her nonchalant look. "Alright, would you like the sex now or later ojou-sama?"
The smaller woman could only look at her in shock. "What's wrong with you?"
Smirking against the hurting throb of her heart, Haruka shook her head and got off the bed, immediately feeling the pain in her feet. "Nothing. Just being the same sarcastic blonde you know," she muttered and made to leave the room. "I'm cooking whatever I can find in the fridge…any requests?"
Michiru remained quiet as the taller woman walked to the door, emerald orbs dully looking at her. When she gave no answer, Haruka turned around and left the room, obviously pained from the walk, but showing no indication that it hurt whatsoever.