Chapter 11: Promise
The butterflies in her stomach had begun flying wildly around again…
It started last night, right after she dropped Michiru off to her condo and the promises of meeting several hours into the next day were made. She didn't get enough sleep since then either and she hoped…really hoped…that she wasn't making another mistake.
The seed of doubt nestled itself in her mind as soon as she laid down on her comfortable bed, her blankets strewn and kicked haphazardly at the bottom of her feet. All the nerve endings encompassing her body were telling her that to meet up with the violinist again and force herself in a situation where they would be alone and talking for at least the majority of the day was the worst decision she could make.
She was supposed to forget about her…and this was definitely a complete one-eighty to that plan.
And yet…even as her mind rambled on, on how bad this idea was, her heart, apparently the current one stronger of the two, was resolute on seeing Michiru again…so the decision to just go ahead and throw caution to the wind was already made even as she worried herself sick about what could happen.
Really though…what was the worst that could happen?
They haven't seen one another in a month and she was sure the other girl, albeit the wonderful feeling her kiss left her feeling last night, doesn't feel a tad bit for her at all…at least not in the same way as the blonde felt for her. It would be a meeting between two friends…Yes, that's all it was.
And that knowledge left her with two completely different mixed emotions: relief and discontent.
She sighed loudly as the elevator she was currently riding on binged open and a hallway of a few doors entered her view. Her heart which had begun pounding incessantly since she entered the all too suddenly cramped elevator had reached a new high and was attempting to make an escape out of her rib cage…or at least that's how it felt like.
Breathing loudly and evenly in an attempt to quell the nervousness she was feeling, she walked to the white wooden door and stared at it for a moment, brushing her hands through her already wildly mussed hair as she did so. Biting her lip and sporting what looked to be a pained look on her handsome features, she raised her hand to the door and…dropped it back down to her side.
"Ugh…" She rolled her eyes at herself. Even a simple knock was nearly impossible with her in this state…and her heart…really needed to stop beating so fast and hard because any more of this assault would result in a heart attack…she could feel it.
Raising her hand up to the door again, she licked the bottom of her already drying lips absentmindedly before knocking on the door softly. A couple seconds with no answers and her fist rose in the air again, this time knocking just a tad bit louder than earlier.
Her mind was telling her to flee while she still had a chance…call Michiru back up from downstairs again and say…she had an accident…or something…
One more time, and if she doesn't answer it's Fate telling me to get the hell out… she thought resolutely to herself and rose her hand in the air a final time.
Before she could even touch the door, it opened softly, quietly and a beautiful head of a freshly showered Michiru greeted her with only her neck and up showing.
"Haruka!"
Oh, God the way she just said her name…
The young CEO smiled nervously at her, wishing to the Gods up there that she couldn't hear the beating of her heart that pounded against her ears roughly. "Ready?" She hated the fact that she even sounded nervous…
But the violinist only smiled and gave a shake of her head. "I just got done showering. Come on in and wait for me."
And the door opened fully…to reveal a scantily clad aqua haired woman in nothing more than a flimsy white towel. Haruka had to force her jaw to clamp; else it'd fall off into the wooden floor. Her widened green eyes gave a little blink as a water droplet stealthily made its way down to the crevices of the other woman's cleavage and disappeared out of sight.
Oh my God…
She forced herself to look away…she had to…She could already feel the hotness encompassing her entire body and if she hadn't trained or known self-restraint her whole life, she would've pounced on the obviously delicious, almost naked woman.
"Haruka…close the door. I don't want my neighbors seeing me like this…" There was a hint of mirth in the violinist's voice which made the blonde chuckle a little in wry sarcasm.
Still looking away from Michiru's body, she turned around and closed the door behind her, even locking it for good measure. Turning back around, she looked at everywhere except the small woman…which of course made her look all the more suspicious because there wasn't really anything to look at in her rather small entryway.
Sapphire eyes twinkled in amusement as the violinist turned around, motioning the tomboy to join her. "Give me a couple of minutes, yes?"
"Y-yeah…"
With her back to her, Haruka could look up again without the worry of hiding the look of real hunger ravaging through her eyes. She gave a hard swallow as she unabashedly stared at the other woman's creamy shoulders…the way her aqua hair stuck to her still wet figure, and the towel that hid everything and nothing at the same time. It took everything she had in her, not to just take her then… And she knew…knew… that if they were even remotely close to still being friends with benefits…she wouldn't have cared about what the entirety of the day had for them and just spend it happily here, reacquainting herself with the most beautiful body she's ever laid her eyes on.
"It's nothing you haven't seen before Haruka," Michiru replied with her back still facing the blonde.
A blush crept up her face as she gave a small cough and continued to follow her, this time with eyes averted. "Did…you have breakfast already?"
"No," the violinist stated and looked over her shoulder with a smile. "But go ahead and go to the living room and just wait for me there. I won't take long."
The young CEO gave a brief nod and entered the living room, giving the clean place a once over before sitting down on one of the plush loveseats. Michiru casually passed by her with what she thought was a subtle sexy sway of her hips before disappearing altogether in her bedroom, not closing the door after her, but definitely not in proper view of the sitting tomboy either.
Haruka sighed silently to squash the raging emotions in her. Her heart still wouldn't shut up and her stomach still felt uneasy, even though she knew there weren't anymore butterflies left in there.
Why did the smaller woman have to tease her like that?? She must've known somewhere inside that she still had an effect on her…She shut her eyes tightly, centering her feelings on one clear goal…Feeling her body begin to ease from the tenseness she woke up to, she opened her eyes and with a confident frown upon her face, she looked up at the opened bedroom door and gave a small smirk.
Michiru was riling her on purpose…She didn't have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out…But of course, two could play this game…It was always the two of them who could play this game—regardless of who started it first. And Michiru was showing her that she was more than able to start it and continue it.
Haruka's smirk grew wider. She definitely didn't want this to be an awkward day full of promises of meeting up and spending it only for silence to invade it like a plague…So she would make it exciting…and fun…for the both of them. Michiru started it and she would be more than willing to take the challenge.
Standing up from the comfort of the sofa, she walked to the opened doorway and just stood there, her hands casually making their way to her pockets.
"You need help by the way?" She smirked at how confident she sounded…the little teasing in her voice imminent.
The violinist stepped in open view as she slipped her arms into a sundress she would be wearing that day, a playful smile in her face as well. "You done being nervous around me of all people?"
Haruka chuckled at how forward the other woman was, but gave a small nod regardless, eyeing at the momentary peep show she was offered. "Turn and let me zip you."
Smiling wider, the smaller woman turned around and lifted her hair as she did so, exposing her creamy neck and shoulders. She looked at the tomboy from her peripherals as the other busied herself with zipping the dress upwards. Michiru gave a thankful smile before grabbing an unbuttoned long sleeve from her closet and finished her ensemble by putting it on. She followed the blonde out of her room, her purse in hand and as they were crossing the living room, her phone rang out noisily.
Haruka stopped in her tracks, eyeing the aqua haired woman as she fished for her cell phone and gave a nonchalant glance at the name Sugiura Jiro that lit the screen. Sapphires met emeralds, the incessant ringing still blaring out between them.
"I'll leave my cell phone here if you promise to turn yours off," the violinist stated with a kind of challenging smirk.
Without breaking eye contact with her, the blonde reached for her cell phone in her pocket and raised it to the air between them, her thumb pressed tightly down on the power button. Three seconds later, a little noise tinkled over them and the screen of her phone went blank. Smiling, Michiru merely tossed the phone in her hand on the sofa as it still rang through the air.
"Let's go."
O--O
The silence and awkwardness she's been foreboding since her mouth ran away with that invitation last night hadn't surfaced, and she was more than happy that it hadn't. She knew it would be awkward for the both of them…of course it would—she saw it right when she opened the door and met up with unsure emerald eyes.
But she wouldn't let it get between them…not after the long month they had just endured.
"So I'm surprised we haven't been flocked over by your league of fans or would-be suitors yet…" Haruka stated with a smirk and raised her coffee cup to her lips.
Michiru gave a small, unsure smile. "I think it's because this place isn't as well known…one of its perks."
The blonde nodded and looked around at the handsome and tiny remote café the violinist had told her the directions to for their breakfast. A friendly old man carried on at the cashier who was more than happy to see the aqua haired woman, who had by now become a regular, and was all the more surprised at her guest; she and her manager had come in a few times, but she was usually alone and, more than that, kept to herself.
What she didn't know was that he was an avid fan of classical music, more specifically her music, so he knew a lot about her life from what the tabloids had offered a tremendous amount of, and one of the information he was more than sad to hear was her marriage to her father's underling's son…which was definitely not the striking young man she had brought to his café this morning.
He could see the energy between them…a kind of suppressed, but strong feeling. The smiles they offered to one another were that of complete and genuine…love…and a small hint of relief. He wondered what their story was for a bit and leaned on the counter with his elbows, his graying eyes trained on their two relaxed figures. They seemed like old friends who had just come together. He could see the obvious look of nervousness that came from both of their body languages, but to his relief, its presence would soon completely dissipate. Their laughing now which caused a smile to flitter on his aged features as well, slowly replaced by one of sadness. Sapphire eyes flitted to his momentarily keeping his smile frozen on his face. He gave a tiny bow at her and continued on cleaning the counter with the cloth in his hand, looking a bit busier than he actually was.
Whatever their story was…he was more than willing to bet it was sad and painful…excruciatingly painful.
"So do I have a say at all on what we're going to be doing today or where?" Haruka asked as she leaned back into her chair.
Michiru easily shook her head. "I have the entire day planned already. I can tell you where…but other than that you don't have a say to anything."
"Wow…that's harsh Michiru…"
The violinist easily waved her complaint away. "Well if it were up to you, you'd make us stay in Tokyo and as of now…I would rather stay in my own home than be in the public eye in Tokyo. For the most part some of the older fans give me room to breathe when they see me, but the new ones…aren't so giving…and as I said I wanted to spend time alone with you."
"Well you already failed," the blonde muttered with a smirk on her features as well as a small nod to the direction of the owner of the café. "We're not alone…"
Sapphire eyes rolled at her accompanied with a chuckle of exasperation. "Well he hasn't bothered us. He's a wonderful man who I happen to know like my music because one of my albums was played one of the times I came here and he hasn't asked any questions or wanted nothing more of me than my order."
"He sounds like a wonderful man. You should go over there and formally introduce yourself."
Sighing loudly and exasperatedly at sparkling, amused green eyes, she finished her coffee, placed the mug down, and stood up, thin eyebrows rising as she did so. "If you're done, we can go. We're burning daylight."
Emerald eyes locked with hers, the mischief in them obvious. "I'm not…I just—Michiru!!"
She gulped the rest of her coffee down and swiped at her croissant as the other woman pulled her unceremoniously from her seat. "Let's go slowpoke."
Haruka growled and bit on the croissant, clamping it with her mouth. Taking her arms off of the smaller woman's grasp, she invaded the space between them quickly and snaked her arms around Michiru's waist, locking it at the base of her stomach. "Fn lesh gu."
The violinist felt her heart flutter for a second, feeling the warm body behind her and arms around her figure. She turned her head a little and smiled in amusement at the croissant hanging partly off of her company's mouth. She contemplated biting it then…just to illicit a response, but instead reached for it with her hand and pulled it off, Haruka's bite mark imminent on what was left. Taking a bite of it as well and sharing amused glances with the young CEO she stated, "Make sense a bit Haruka."
The blonde placed her chin softly on her shoulder and chewed all the while pushing her to the direction of the door. "I said, fine let's go…now let's go! And don't eat the entire croissant…" Michiru bit some more of it for good measure, earning her another growl and an amused laugh.
She pushed the door open for them, Haruka still walking behind her, her arms still tightly encompassed on her small waist. Getting to the car she raised the croissant to the blonde's mouth and smiled softly at the endearing picture she was sporting. She ate a little more than half of the rest which prompted the smaller woman to eat what was left, gladly.
"So where to hime-sama?"
The arms around her had decidedly unlocked and retreated, one of them going to the blonde's pockets in search of her car keys and the other still resting comfortably at the small of her back. All the while missing the small action, sapphire eyes once again rolled at the given name. "Don't call me that—
"Michiru-chan?"
"After you ojou-sama—
"Fine! Low blow and you know it…"
Haruka opened the door with a cringing face and smiled handsomely at her chuckling company. "You started it."
"Yes, I did."
After Michiru got in comfortably, Haruka followed suit and went in to the driver's side. "Really though…where are we off to?"
"My grandfather's."
Emerald eyes widened for a bit, discomfort showing in them imminently. "Kaioh Kei's…house?"
"He owns a tea house north of Tokyo. I think otou-san made it just so he could leave Kaioh-Miroku…" There was a little mirth in her voice, but at the same time not which made the young CEO sigh inwardly.
Twisting the ignition on, Haruka asked, "Are you two close?"
Michiru nodded. "As close as we could be given that we don't see or talk to one another normally, but I promised him I would personally hand deliver my album so you're helping me with that errand."
"Tcheh…"
She chuckled at the small noise the blonde made as the car finally lurched forward into the already filling streets.
O--O
The scenery around them had turned from a bustling city to a residential suburb to a somewhat disclosed and very private…village? Haruka wasn't very sure. All she knew was that after forty five minutes of driving, she had never been as far away from the city as she was now.
"Take a right here."
She looked at the direction Michiru pointed to at first before giving the smaller woman a look of scrutiny. "This is the most undisclosed tea house ever…" she muttered, but nevertheless took the right turn as directed, the road turning into a dirt caked path.
"Believe it or not it still makes a lot of money," the violinist replied.
She couldn't see a lot beside them, the two way dirt road surrounded by tall, well trimmed, green hedges that kind of created an arc around them. The road forced the car to take a right, lest she kept going straight into the hedges themselves and a view of a gravel parking lot came into sight, cars of respectable worth parked in the otherwise empty slots.
"Go ahead and park anywhere Haruka."
She decided to do so, parking her Ferrari in the closest spot near the bridge adjoining the parking lot to the main garden itself. They both got out as she looked at the tea house in scrutiny, hating that she liked the over all look and feel of it and wondering who built the design.
"Fields-san." She rolled her eyes and made a sound of disgust as Michiru chuckled beside her. "It's pretty though isn't it?"
"I could've done better," Haruka muttered and casually put her hands in her pockets.
The violinist only smiled at her in amusement as she looked at the entirety of the Sukiya Style tea house. It was made completely of wood or clay, earning the one story building a kind of natural look. It blended well with the environment, the earthy hues the temple like house had complimenting all that was nature surrounding it: a pristine lake in the backside and a garden with a small koi pond in the front. The cherry blossoms surrounding the estate were also in full bloom and Haruka hated the fact that her company's rival made it because it looked…very nice, to say the least.
They walked over the bridge together, the blonde eyeing everything with a small frown.
Michiru laughed suddenly, taking her out of her architecture-induced stupor. "Well at least you're no longer worried about meeting Ojii-san."
The young CEO cringed outwardly. "Is he nice?"
No longer caring about the environment around them, she looked worriedly at the smaller woman who was now just chuckling. "Didn't we talk about this in the car?"
"Yeah, but—
"He'll know who you are…definitely," Michiru stated resolutely. "But we'll just have to see won't we?"
The nervous feeling centering around the blonde's stomach came back in full force. "What is it with you Kaiohs and making me meet family members in the weirdest way…"
The violinist laughed at the so-called dinner her family and Haruka spent more than a month ago. "Who knows," she shrugged. "Maybe it's our way of welcoming you into the family."
Haruka stopped in her tracks for a moment, the violinist's words hitting her harder than she wanted to show. She sighed inwardly and fell into step again, noting the look of worry gracing the other woman's face. The easygoing smile had fallen from her face and the familiar aches her heart had made her used to came sneaking back.
Their way of welcoming her into the family huh? As what exactly? Haruka kind of wanted to ask the aqua haired woman that, but knew she wouldn't be able to at the same time. All she knew was that it was too soon to start feeling as if the wind had gotten knocked out of her. This was an outing between two friends. The fact that they had been just a tad bit more in the past didn't matter. She agreed to this day…and she would continue on.
She wondered briefly if she was being a masochist about the entire thing…and if Michiru somehow knew she felt more for her than she'd let on in the past and is secretly enjoying making her insides turn into mush and steel all at the same time.
She smirked wryly, meeting sapphire eyes momentarily.
"Are you alright?" the violinist asked, her tone a worried one.
She punched her feelings down and gave a wide smile. "Nh, I was thinking…if I were to be a part of your family…being mediator would definitely not be in my job description." The violinist's worried look turned into an amused smile. "How are they by the way?"
Footsteps echoed before them, focusing their attention to the arrival of a tall, aging man with grey wavy short hair and a clean shaven, wrinkled face. His eyes were the same sapphires Kaioh Shinji and Michiru sported, and he stood in a straight and very prideful manner, looking much younger than his purported age.
Turning quickly to the arriving old man, the smaller woman quickly replied, "We'll talk about it later," before greeting with a warm smile, "Ojii-san, good afternoon."
"Michiru-chan, I'm glad you could make it."
They met at the end of the bridge in a small hug, the small pleasantry looking just a tad bit uncomfortable where the blonde was standing.
Aged sapphire eyes looked at her then, devoid of emotion as Kei and his granddaughter separated. "And who is this? Definitely not Sugiura's son…"
Haruka refused to let the frown she wanted to let out show. Instead, she locked eyes with the scrutinizing deep blue ones before forcing herself to unlock it as she bowed.
"This is Tenoh Haruka…my best friend."
To say that she was surprised at her given title would be an understatement. Her heart almost leapt out of her chest, her body stuck in the same bowing position that she gave upon the old man's arrival.
Best friend? Since when?
She frowned at the thought, but figured she would just let it pass…It was just a title Michiru gave out of nowhere to dispel a few of already many questions. They were just words…Words that don't need to be taken seriously.
"Good afternoon Kaioh-san. Sorry if I'm imposing," she stated almost mechanically and stood straight up again, meeting the same scrutinizing sapphire eyes.
The two of them locked eyes for a moment, neither one backing down, before Kei gave a little nod and stated, "No trouble at all Tenoh-san."
"I'm sorry for not calling you earlier to tell you ojii-san," Michiru stated between them, a small hint of a worried crease etched on her face as she looked at her grandfather. "It's Satoshi-san's day off and I didn't want to impose on it and Haruka…san and I were meeting up today and I…dragged her here…so I could see you and…deliver my album."
Kei's eyes never left Haruka's. "Must be great to have a friend who'll be more than willing to drive an hour and a half out of Tokyo just to deliver an album," he said softly.
The blonde smiled then and gave a small shrug. "I think she handpicked me just 'cuz she knows I drive fast…only took forty five minutes Kaioh-san. If anything, coming here made my weekend all the more exciting."
She didn't let her smug smile die down…only because he wouldn't let their small staring contest die down.
Michiru looked between the two of them with a worried frown and stated, "We'll go since—
"Stay." Kei's small statement was made with the breaking of locked eyes with emeralds and instead focused on his granddaughter's. "Have some tea…lunch. It was a long drive and I'm sure you're both hungry."
"I—
"And no, Michiru-chan, you will not be imposing on anything." He smiled a little, the action not meeting his eyes. "You're my granddaughter. You'll never impose on anything."
Haruka looked on at the two and wondered just how the violinist didn't end up into a cold, unreachable person. Was there anyone in this family who actually acted like family and meant it?
"You will stay too Tenoh-san…I insist it."
Aged sapphires met hers again, but she could only nod. "It would be rude if I didn't Kaioh-san."
All three of them stood at the end of the bridge momentarily before Kei turned around and led the way into the large tea house, dispelling the awkwardness that had already ensued. He led them into the main house after the two guests had taken off their shoes, Haruka only looking at the beautifully decorated rooms with little attention and instead focused on Michiru who was walking beside her.
"Sorry—
"Don't start," Haruka muttered and smirked as sapphires looked at her in a quiet surprise. "Best friends are supposed to be heavily scrutinized…"
Michiru looked away then with a wide smile upon her face causing the blonde to smile just a bit wider and put her arm around the smaller woman's shoulders casually. "Thanks for taking me here."
"I'm sure you have a better reason than wanting me to get dagger stared by your grandfather who…reminds me more of your mother than your father…oddly enough."
Michiru laughed, causing Kei to turn to her abruptly before stopping, waiting for the two of them to come closer before a closed shoji door.
As they neared him, he opened the sliding door and stated, "Lunch will be served momentarily. Seeing as you don't come often Michiru-chan, I'll join you as soon as it arrives. Unfortunately there are other guests that need to be taken care of before it so please wait for me."
They both nodded, even though Kei spoke as if Haruka wasn't present in the small hallway. He motioned for them to enter the room before leaving them alone, closing the shoji door behind him.
The room was bare, save for a rectangular table in the middle of the room and colorful cushions placed properly around it. They both made their way to the farther, longer side of the table and sat next to one another on the cushions, their feet and shins under them.
"Your family just loves to torture me with awkward meals…" Haruka muttered, earning a small laugh from her company.
"I really did just mean to give him the album and go…" she stated softly. "For some reason though, I remember him being friendlier the last time I stayed here."
"Hmm…maybe you should've taken Sugiura here first…so he doesn't think weirdly about anything," the blonde replied and eyed the smaller woman, wanting to see how she would react at such tactless words.
To her surprise, Michiru leaned into her and placed her head softly on her shoulder, a sad look upon the violinist's face. "Why should it matter who I take where?"
Blonde eyebrows creased into a frown at her words, at a loss for her own momentarily.
"Is it so bad that I want to spend time with you?"
That sudden painful feeling erupted from her heart again and she could only shake her head slowly. "No…I—
"Can I ask you a personal question?"
Haruka didn't know how to answer that knowing full well what the question would entail. Her frown alleviated somewhat for the time being though as she felt the weight of the violinist's head on her shoulder, smelling her familiar, sweet scent. "What is it?"
"How was your month?"
Yup, that was the question she was dreading…She sighed inwardly and shifted her weight on her legs, feeling the tingling feeling starting to erupt at the soles of her feet. Recalling her hellish month and the catalyst of it being their breakup, she couldn't help, but feel that maybe she should lie…and say it was great—that it felt just like any other month in the year…
"I hated it…" she stated quietly and leaned her head into Michiru's head as well, her hairs tickling her cheek effectively.
The younger woman gave a small nod before softly saying, "Nh, me too."
Haruka gulped at her words, wanting to know what she meant by them, but at the same time feeling as if she shouldn't know. She felt the weight of the smaller woman's head ease off her shoulder making her turn to the violinist who was already looking at her as well. Their emotions mirrored one another…the question of why being addressed without it being spoken.
"Did you know that you're my outlet for everything?" The blonde frowned a little at her words, wondering what it was she was trying to convey. Michiru sighed and turned away from her, back to the front of the room. "At first…I really thought the sex was amazing…and that was the main reason why I kept coming back…" Haruka's frown deepened. "But…after we called it off, I realized that I missed you more than anything. It wasn't…the sex or the fact that I was doing something to 'feed my wild side' as you chose to call it, but just being with you."
Sapphires looked at questioning emeralds again before continuing, "It was so easy to just delve into my work…because for the majority of it I was thinking about my time spent with you and how I treasured it above everything. And I hated every weekend that passed by knowing that I wouldn't be able to spend it with you somehow…not to have sex…Not at all…but cooking with you, sharing memories, sharing jokes…being in the company of someone who genuinely cared, not about who I am, but my overall wellbeing."
Haruka gulped at the words uttered by the smaller woman, feeling her heart flutter if only for a moment. It almost sounded as if…
"So…don't mistake the fact that I called you my best friend only because I was giving you a title I can lean back on in case questions are asked…You really are the best friend I could ever hope for Haruka…and I asked you out today because I've had it going through a month without talking to you or being in bad terms with you."
Best friend…right. Of course that was what the smaller woman meant.
She bit the disappointed feeling down and just smiled at her then, reached her hand out to her, and touched her cheek. As Michiru leaned in to her touch with a smile of her own Haruka began to feel that maybe this was alright. The violinist saw her not just a friend with benefits, but an actual friend…best friend in fact. And she stated all the things that she had been thinking for the past month, like the times spent cooking and merely conversing more important than the actual deed friends with benefits usually supplied one another.
And then her heart gave a momentary throb at how hard it would be to just be a friend…in the sidelines…It'll hurt. It'll definitely hurt…Did she want to subject herself to that kind of torture?
She looked deep into troubled sapphire eyes and her smile could only widen, grabbing the smaller woman's chin in between her thumb and index finger playfully as she did so. It seemed her heart and mind had already conceded to the idea. Being with Michiru as a friend was far better than not being with her at all…and that, if anything, was a consolation prize she was more than willing to accept…for now.
"Let's start a new contract then."
Michiru gave her a confused look as she sported a thoughtful one.
"I'll be your confidante and you'll be mine. Let's share all our troubles to one another and hang out as we did before with no sexual connotations whatsoever…seeing as cheating on a fiancée is frowned upon by our culture…"
The violinist chuckled a bit before locking eyes with emeralds, her face that of a sudden serious manner. "I never cheated on you…I hope you know that."
Haruka bared the face of pure nonchalance while her insides rang with joy and relief, the thoughts that had been plaguing her of the violinist being a kind of scarlet woman diminishing as Michiru faced her with a somber and honest look.
Glancing down at her thighs, she continued softly, "Jiro is my public lover. Kisses on the cheek are the farthest we've ever gone…and I know that with how our old contract was designed that it wouldn't matter if I did do something or not, but I just wanted to clarify that I would never do that…not to you."
The blonde's heart warmed at her words, but instead of looking outwardly that it meant the world to her to hear what the violinist just said, she opted to instead joke and snickered out loud, "I see…so he hasn't even reached first base yet…"
The violinist laughed at her brashness that had returned with a vengeance as she shook her head in agreement. "No…he hasn't."
Haruka smirked. "I'm kind of surprised that he'd be okay with that…"
"I'm sure he's not, but unless he forces the relationship he doesn't have a say in it at all."
"So he's more than alright with the marriage happening then?"
A, "Please excuse me," rang out from the other side of the shoji door as it opened partially revealing an older woman seated down on her shins with a kimono. She bowed to them from there before opening it fully with what looked like trays of food and tea. The room was bathed in silence momentarily as she placed the trays before the two guests and one more for the absent owner in one side of the rectangular table while placing the tea related items moreover in the other side. She bowed one last time to them formally before making her way out of the room, bowing again before closing the shoji door behind her.
"Wow…formal…"
Michiru chuckled as she looked at the trays consisting of white rice, tempura shrimps, gyoza, miso, tonkatsu with shredded cabbage on the side, and chicken curry. They both looked up again as the door slid open once more, revealing Kaioh Kei in the other side. He walked to the right side of his granddaughter and sat there without a word, cueing everyone to pick up their chopsticks as he did so and a chorus of "Itadakimasu" rang through the air.
"So how are the plans for marriage?" He was the one to break the early silence with the topic the violinist kind of wanted to avoid.
"Still in its infancy process," Michiru replied eyeing a still eating Haruka through her peripherals. "It's scheduled in ten or so months…we're debating on the date as of now."
Kei looked on in mild surprise. "The date matters? Are you two actually in love or…"
Haruka was all ears in this conversation that managed to turn up. The questions coming from the elder male Kaioh made it so much easier to just sit back and watch how everyone's reaction would be…more importantly, Michiru's. She looked at her in her peripherals momentarily before decidedly digging into her meal, not looking as if she was interested in the topic at hand, but definitely listening and observing with all she could muster.
The smaller woman smiled in amusement before shaking her head. "We're trying to pick a date in which I won't be busy with my life and he won't be busy in Kaioh-Miroku. At the moment there are a lot of things going on with me so we can't marry as of now, and after the hype dies down, he'll be busy with future deals in the company as well," she explained in between bites. "It's just a matter of finding the perfect time in which two very busy people aren't so busy…"
Inwardly Haruka wished they would be busy forever…
"Do you like him?"
Young sapphires widened a bit at the question and looked at her grandfather, the attention of the table focused on her. The blonde was sure the answer would be a no or at least she hoped it was a no, but the words coming from the smaller woman made all the difference.
When she didn't answer fast enough Kei stated, "Alright, I'll rephrase that. Do you love him."
"No." The answer was quick, almost automatic which made Haruka smirk outwardly, hiding it quickly with a swift bite of the tonkatsu.
"Do you want to? Could you, given the chance?"
She could start to feel the uneasiness rolling in waves from the smaller woman beside her which made Haruka somewhat start hating this mild interrogation…but at the same time wanting it to continue for her curiosity's sake. Whatever they said about it killing cats didn't have much to do with her…
Michiru pasted on a look of nonchalance as she continued eating. "I don't love him now so I doubt there'll ever be anything—
"Shinji and Shina were like you two once—
"It's different ojii-san."
"How so?"
"Because loving two different people was something Yui onee-san couldn't do and I won't either."
Aged sapphires widened as Haruka's widened as well at words they weren't really expecting. Immediately she wanted to know what the violinist was talking about…loving two people? She loved someone? A flicker of hope danced inside her as she contemplated the fact that it could be her, but sapphire eyes refused to meet hers and continued to glance at mirroring blues.
"And you'll be alright being the martyr?"
"I think Kaiohs are made to be martyrs…" Michiru stated almost sarcastically. "Those that can't handle it end up dying."
The conversation had turned for the worse and Haruka hoped beyond hope that Kei would stop soon…or preferably now.
"I was like you when I was young." A small smile flitted on the elder Kaioh's features as he stared at his miso soup in an almost saddening way. Two young pairs of eyes looked on in silence as he continued, "It was funny because I was in love with this girl and I completely thought that if I were to live a long life, to be with her would've been an honor. But of course I lived a life of privilege and with that kind of living arrangement there had to be a catch.
"I never loved your grandmother and she died never loving me. It was a marriage that couldn't be fixed regardless of what we did so we gave everything we had in it during the first few years in which your father was born and then separated…never by paper, but definitely emotionally and physically. I lived in the Kaioh Estate and worked daily at Kaioh Tea Company while Shinji grew up with the maids that were left in his care and she continued on living at her own parent's estate.
"You would think that because of that happening to me…and the fact that I hated my parents for putting me in that situation that I wouldn't do it to my own son…" Kei smiled wryly in obvious disgust for himself and frowned heavily, mirroring the troubled looks his granddaughter and guest were giving him. "But when a good opportunity comes knocking at your door and you know it's worth sacrificing relationships for…you just do it. So your mother and father were sacrificed for the joining of Kaioh-Miroku…and when they were old enough to take the CEO spots, I easily gave it to them because ever since I was young, that company felt like a cruel curse…A curse I didn't want to be a part of anymore…"
Haruka frowned sadly at the melancholic words of the old man and glanced at the saddened seated figure of the violinist as well.
"It surprised me though, when Shina and Shinji actually began caring for each other," Kei continued on and smiled a little, wrinkles atop his aging face disappearing momentarily. "Less than a year into the marriage and Yui was conceived and just when I thought that was it, you came as well and I was just a bit envious that he had the family I always wanted, but at the same time happy that maybe the fact that they loved one another would put a stop to anymore company related arranged marriages…I was wrong, of course…"
He sighed and stopped eating to reach towards his granddaughter, stroking her hair lovingly as he did so with a smile atop his features. Michiru shared an uneasily smile at his random touch of endearment as he cupped her cheek with the palm of his warm hand. Haruka only looked on wordlessly with the same sad, almost angry frown on her face.
"You're my only granddaughter left," Kei stated, his eyes never leaving the violinist's. "I know that I wasn't always the grandfather you've always wanted…that I seemed almost cold and to tell you the truth I was and probably still am. Regardless of that though, I want you to know that I do not condone this marriage with Sugiura." Young sapphire eyes widened in surprise at his sudden words. "And if you can't love two people at the same time…you shouldn't just to appease your parents. You should reach out to what you want to do…and damn the company or whoever else that may think otherwise."
He looked at her seriously for a moment, letting his words sink in before decidedly sighing audibly as his hand made its way back to his side, a kind of sarcastic and wry laughter echoing out of him. "Of course…it's much easier said than done…" he stated resolutely and shrugged almost dejectedly. "But I wish…one Kaioh would be strong enough to break the curse that we've lived by for generations upon generations now…"
After that they ate in relative silence, the clinking of plates and bowls the only sound echoing around them.
All the blonde knew was that her mother had been right…The history of rich people was an eternally depressing story…and she wished she could save Michiru from it.
When they finally finished lunch, he served them the tea properly, positioning himself in a sitting position in front of them this time. He eyed Haruka who bowed at him as he did so and smirked.
"Any arranged marriages in the future for you Tenoh-san?"
Haruka chuckled while shaking her head. "No, sir," she answered easily and sipped the tea as properly as she was taught. "My mother knows better…"
Kei smirked at her words and sighed audibly. "That's good…although seeing you chained by a man would—
"Never happen." The blonde smirked as well, locking eyes with aged sapphires as she sipped her tea. "I didn't mean to cut you off sir, but I just didn't want any kind of misunderstanding on anyone's part."
The elder Kaioh chuckled, as well and gave a small shrug. "It's not that I care. What you do with your life is your business seeing as you're of no relation to me."
A spark of competition flared within the blonde then and her next question almost came as a prod—one that her mouth never even had the chance to ask her mind if it was okay to just blurt out. "And if Michiru-san ever does—
"She won't." Michiru's eyes widened between them, a look of pure uneasiness gracing her features. Kei on the other hand looked utterly serious, his aged eyes locking with sparkling emeralds. "Are you trying to insinuate something Tenoh-san?"
Haruka shook her head and decidedly backed out, her easy smile never faltering. "Trust me Kaioh-san, I've tried. Your granddaughter's straight as a whistle."
The elder Kaioh's stare switched to the violinist's who's uneasy smile never gave out. He gave one swift nod as Michiru looked up at him as well and he stated resolutely, "She's far too beautiful to not be interested in men."
O--O
"That was soooo awkward…"
"It's your fault, you goaded him!"
Michiru gave the taller woman a small slap in the arm as she laughed. "Well you know…I had to spice the conversation up a bit…"
The violinist sighed, the words traded after their lunch still affecting her. "Haruka…"
But the blonde only gave her the same smug smile she's grown to really love and she could only shake her head in exasperation.
"Straight as a whistle…hah! I still can't believe I said that…"
Michiru sighed, but smiled at any rate. Regardless of how much she looked like she wanted to fall off the face of the earth during the conversation, it gave her an insight as to what it would look like to be on the other side…and how anyone would react if she were to say what she really wanted in life. The way her grandfather looked at Haruka…irked her to say the least. Up until their last conversation he acted as if she wasn't even there…and when the business of who he knew her as came into play, there was nothing, but disgust.
Her opinion of him had definitely lowered…
"What did I tell you about frowning?"
She looked up at sparkling emeralds and smiled. "It doesn't make me look sexy…"
"Well then if you know that why are you frowning? Do you not like looking sexy?" The violinist merely laughed at her bluntness and looped her arms around the blonde's. "Where are we going by the way?"
They were outside the tea house, walking towards the pristine lake. "You are going to take me to the other side of the lake actually," Michiru stated and pointed at a manually operated boat on the shore complete with two paddles on the side. It looked old and rickety, and Haruka gave a blanched look as the smaller woman beside her only smiled.
"You're kidding right?"
The violinist shook her head. "I have another reason why I came here today and you'll take me there and accompany me."
The young CEO had by now gotten used to not refuting the other woman's words and just merely sighed and nodded her head. "Fine…you owe me though. Today's supposed to be my day off and you're making me work."
Michiru laughed and leaned into the taller woman's arms, wondering just slightly if her grandfather was looking out of the windows at them at all and knowing that she didn't care much made her almost feel smug. "I'm sorry about the way he was with you by the way…"
"What do you mean?" She looked up at Haruka and smiled, fully knowing that the tomboy knew exactly what she meant, but was willing to act dumb. "I…just didn't like the way he looked at you."
But the tomboy just shrugged, a worry free look on her handsome features. "If something like how he was either ignoring me or looking utterly disgusted ever affected me you'd be the one to know," the young CEO stated easily. "Regardless of who he is though I've only met him today and the only reason why I even bothered to listen to his story that sounded wrong in all levels was because he's somehow connected to you, and if I get to know something new about you, even the smallest bit, I'll listen."
Michiru swallowed roughly at the genuine words uttered by the blonde and just looked at her in quiet awe.
"There are usually three reactions people have when they meet me and they know who I am," Haruka continued, putting each finger up as she spoke. Looking up at the sky as if contemplating the three options, she continued, "One, they're okay about it. Two, they're disgusted and would rather choke on nails than stay in the same room where we breathe the same air. Three…they just don't care. Kaioh-san…looked like option number two there for a bit, but because I was your guest and he wanted to spend time with you he couldn't get away from me even if he wanted…so he had to put up with me just as much as I had to put up with him…"
The violinist smiled sadly. "You sound so used to it…"
"Well it's not like I can hide it even if I wanted to," the tomboy exclaimed. "I didn't lie to your grandfather…I will never be interested in a guy or have any take interest in me."
"You'd rather be chained down by a woman."
Haruka laughed and nodded vigorously. "Mhmm…being chained down by a woman is…fun."
Michiru rubbed her forehead in exasperation at the other's double meaning, but her smile never faltered. But as the thoughts of chaining the taller woman down entered her thoughts, her mind had the audacity and right timing to remind her of their new contract.
Would it be really okay…to just be friends? She looked up at the tomboy's handsome face and sighed inwardly, wanting to already reach up to her and…kiss her. The flame of desire she'd been able to suppress because of her nonstop hours of working rekindled again and she couldn't help, but feel drawn to just succumbing to it.
She already knew it would be hard if they were to ever come to this phase…merely friends with no other strings attached…but she also knew that to be just friends with Haruka was better than being nothing to her. She didn't know how long she could keep it up…a façade that she was okay with this kind of relationship, but for the sake of keeping the tomboy right by her side…she would act forever if she had to. It sounded selfish…but she had every right to be at least for this situation, couldn't she?
"You're off in your own world again," the young CEO's husky voice stated, taking her out of her reverie.
Michiru's smile widened, hugging Haruka's arm ever closer to her. "I just missed you, that's all Haruka."
They had arrived at the tiny boat, the tomboy's unsure face making the violinist laugh outwardly a little.
"Are you sure this is safe?" she asked and gave the dark brown piece of transportation a little kick. "It might break down in the middle of the lake and we'll drown…"
"Ara didn't you know?" Haruka looked at Michiru's amused face as she continued, "I'm a pretty good swimmer as well…so you drowning would never be an option…I like my best friends alive and breathing."
The young CEO laughed and stepped into the boat, sitting down on it and rocking it around just to test its sturdiness. "Lucky me," she stated sarcastically and smirked as the violinist made her way inside as well, sitting in front of her. "Now I know you Kaiohs are rich enough to afford a little mechanical boat, or even better yet a yacht so can I ask why do you keep this…god forsaken un-technologically advanced piece of…crap?"
The smaller woman laughed at her brashness as she handed her one of the oars to the side. "A yacht would look strange being parked in front of a tea house that for all its intent and purpose is to look as natural as it can," she explained, chuckling at the even, disbelieving stare the blonde gave her.
"That's it? That's the reason why you have a crappy piece of boat instead of a yacht? It won't…look right?" Haruka sighed and pushed them forward into the still waters of the lake with one of the oars, taking the other one into her hand and beginning the simple strokes of moving the oars forward and back.
In the infancy of their boat ride, she had decidedly taken off her tan blazer and Michiru smiled appreciatively at the built figure she could see hidden behind the dress shirt she wore. And the way the thin sheen of sweat began surrounding her forehead only served her to look so much more…appetizing. The violinist hid the blush that had managed to crawl into her cheeks by facing away from the tomboy, her attention fixed on their destination.
"Do you see that little gate?"
She pointed to a part of the mainland, about a mile or so away. "Yeah…that tall double sided one?" Haruka asked as she rowed more specifically to its direction.
Michiru nodded and turned back to her, forcing herself to look down lest the taller woman would see the burning desire ravaging through her sapphire eyes.
"What's there exactly?" the blonde asked, eyeing her questioningly.
She looked up then and smiled, not a hint of sadness or melancholy in her features. "Yui onee-san."
Emerald eyes widened at words she wasn't expecting and her rowing kind of slowed momentarily. She swallowed a bit and looked passed the smaller woman to the black colored, double sided gate.
"It's a cemetery where all the past Kaiohs are buried," Michiru explained, answering the unasked question. "We own a lot of the land in this area and the main purpose of that piece of land is specifically for when that time comes in which we'll have to be buried six feet under the ground."
The tomboy blinked a bit and looked back at the smile on the smaller woman's face.
"There's no need to be nervous Haruka," she stated and leaned into her to pat her thigh good naturedly. "But I figured since Yuriko-san told me that she had explained to you what happened to my sister that I would take you to see her with me…I would appreciate it if you specifically could accompany."
The blonde's uneasy look disappeared and in its place was just a small, timid smile. "Are you sure it'll be alright?"
"I would rather have you with me than being alone or, god forbid, Jiro…"
Haruka chuckled and began rowing faster with renewed vigor. "Well if you insist…"
Michiru didn't come to visit her sister often, but she knew this would not be the last time she would in the company of the young CEO. She really did genuinely want to share this moment with her. She had been hiding it for the better part of their relationship and now that the blonde knew, she would be more than willing to share all of it unabashedly.
"I understand by the way…"
She shook herself out of her reverie and looked up at Haruka who continued to row the boat. She smiled handsomely making the violinist smile, albeit in confusion.
"Why you couldn't tell me about your parents and your sister," she continued and looked away with a kind of ashamed look. "The last time we were together I wouldn't back out of knowing what it was, but when my mother told me…" She trailed off as her easygoing smile slid as well. She looked back at melancholic sapphires and bit her lip. "I'm sorry…I don't know how it feels like to lose someone like that and—
She cut off as Michiru leaned forward and sealed her lips with her index finger, a soft smile on her face. The smaller woman sighed inwardly in satisfaction. There was nothing more endearing than a confessing Haruka…and then the feel of her soft lips on the tip of her finger finally managed to tell her brain that they had been too close before to merit this kind of action, at which time she finally pulled back with the same soft look still etched in her face.
"It's in the past," the violinist stated with a quiet smile and looked away towards the gate they were headed into. "If anything it was my fault for keeping it to myself anyway…knowing that you just wanted to know because you cared, not because you wanted to pry. I guess the rebellious side of me didn't want you to…mainly because I'm such a masochist and agonizing alone seems to make my story that much sadder…"
The tomboy sported a worried look and sighed outwardly. "Don't say things like that…"
Michiru looked up at her and widened her smile, her index finger coming in to push the crease the blonde's eyebrows had created. "Stop making rules about frowning when you break them too," she chastised.
Haruka laughed. "Yeah, but frowning doesn't take off my sexiness—
"Nh, your arrogance does."
They both laughed loudly Michiru feeling the most worry-free she's felt all month. Haruka and only Haruka brought this feeling out of her…and she figured that was only one of the reasons why she had fallen so madly in love with her without meaning to.
After fifteen more minutes, they reached the shore leading to the tall gate. Just like the tea house the perimeter was entirely surrounded by tall, green hedges, the only indication it was a burial ground from the huge slabs of granite and marbled tombstones that one could see from the decorative holes of the gate.
Haruka went out of the boat first, keeping it in place so that the younger woman could get out without splashing into the water and helped her onto dry land.
Michiru led the way, a sad frown marring her features momentarily. When she decided to come here with the blonde, she resolutely told herself that she wouldn't become emotional for the sake of looking strong, but the environment…the atmosphere…everything in this place reminded her of who she was, who she is now, and who she's expected to be in the future…and that thought only caused her heart to feel that much heavier.
She sighed softly and quietly, knowing full well that it was done silently enough to not merit the tomboy's attention who finally took her spot beside her. They silently walked passed the gate, the violinist opening it just slightly enough so that they could pass through before closing it again.
It was an obviously well tended place with not a sign of dead leaves and freshly picked flowers dropped at every tombstone's place. Even in their deaths it seemed that the past generations of Kaiohs kept an abundance of pride…and it showed by the majestic artwork upon their graves. None of the graves seemed especially close to one another either which made the place seem eerily serene and detached all at the same time.
They wordlessly trudged on, passed other tombstones until they reached the very end where a cherry tree in full bloom danced its flowers around them. Underneath it to its left was quite possibly the most normal gravestone in the entire vicinity. It was a fully black marbled stone with the words Beloved Daughter Kaioh Yui written on it, and that was it. No decorations, no overbearingly large statues…just the stone.
A sad smile rode on Michiru's face as she squatted to the small tombstone and touched its warm surface. Haruka only stood up and looked on quietly.
She didn't want to get emotional…She was resolute in looking so strong…but…
"She wrote a note…when she died," the aqua haired woman said softly, her morose frown becoming more imminent on her beautiful face. Emerald eyes looked up at her saddened sapphires as she gave a small, almost wry smile. Keeping her eyes steady on her older sister's name, she stated, "My parents were busy at Kaioh-Miroku when she came home for Christmas break from Todai. By then I was old enough to understand what was going on, but I felt since she was the older one of us that she would understand why she had to go through with the wedding."
She gulped the painful lump in her throat down, her words completely taking her mind back to the past she was speaking of. "I kept telling her she was already built to take over the company…Since she liked it, it shouldn't have been a big deal to marry just for the sake of its continuance. I had heard about the rumors concerning her boyfriend and his family, but just like everyone else I kind of overlooked it because she seemed stronger than to let what I thought was a trifle thing to come between them."
She felt her heart begin to twinge in melancholy, her sister's smiling, confident face coming into her blurring vision. And just as easily, she began to feel herself break. "I wish I wouldn't have said that…"
Warm arms encompassed her shoulders as her heart gave out a painful throb, Haruka's familiar, comforting scent lingering all around her. She moved back almost automatically into the warm embrace and leaned her head against the nook of the taller woman's neck, feeling her emotions beginning to flood out.
"I wish I could've understood her more…because I was the only one who could and was willing to listen at the time and I just shrugged it off as if she didn't matter…" The dammed tears broke and Haruka's embrace only tightened on her silently crying figure. Shutting her eyes, she turned slowly around and buried her face into the tomboy's neck, her hands coming up to grip the blonde's dress shirt tightly.
Her words were cracked now…nearly incomprehensible, but she merely continued on, fearing that if she couldn't get this out now, she may never be able to do so. "She and my parents never got to talk about it even when she went home for the holidays. They were evading her and I think all she really wanted them to do is listen…and they couldn't…and I was still too simple minded to really think it mattered…and…she couldn't take it anymore…" She felt the bitterness come out of her voice…anger and disappointment she knew was locked in her, but never came towards the surface. Her knuckles had by this time turned white from gripping on Haruka's dress shirt, but neither of them cared. Instead, the young CEO embraced her tighter, rubbing her back and hair every now and then to signal that she was still there and listening.
"I came home that night to find her in her bedroom…Everything was dark and she usually slept with a lamplight due to habit so I turned it on. I found her note there…and it was in the open and I figured I could read a little since she was sleeping and…when I realized what it entailed I just kind of stood there and—
"Michiru…"
The violinist grunted loudly in helpless frustration, her arms coming around the blonde's waist to hug her tightly as well. Irritated tears flowed out of her eyes like rivers and all she could do was feel angry…at the situation…at the past…at herself…She held the blonde tighter, not wanting the other woman to see her like this nor wanting to see if there was even a bit of disgust in the tomboy's face after knowing about a part of her past that she could've changed, but didn't.
But Haruka would have none of it. She felt her slowly retract her arms from her shoulders enough so that they could see one another's faces, but not far enough that the hug they shared would break.
"Stop…blaming yourself…for these things…" Haruka said softly and locked eyes with hers, a genuinely caring and worried look on her handsome features. She growled a bit in frustration and muttered, "I hate it…that you think it's your fault that your sister died or it's on you that she did—
"If I cared enough this wouldn't have happened!"
"You cared enough!" the blonde stated loudly, making sapphire eyes widen momentarily. She sighed and cupped the younger woman's wet cheeks into her warm palm. As their eyes locked again, she gave a small, albeit worried smile and continued, "It's not your fault. None of it is. You didn't force her feelings on a wedding she didn't want. You didn't bribe her boyfriend to go away. You weren't the one to make their relationship falter…it wasn't you!"
She growled again and swiped the marching tears off of Michiru's face, her thumbs caressing the wrinkled spot in between her forehead.
She seemed hesitant to speak at first until she stated softly, "Put some of the blame on…" She stopped again and looked away, her features becoming one of anger. "Put some blame on your parents…they're not exactly saints…"
She looked back at her then and they shared a long and even stare, until the violinist finally gave her a defeated smile.
It suddenly felt as if a ton of weights had been lifted off of her shoulders…as words she's been waiting to hear finally came out. "I…don't know how long I've waited to hear that…"
Haruka sighed at her morose figure. "I'm pretty sure your sister would've told you if she could've."
Michiru's smile stayed on her face as she gave a small pout, her heart still feeling heavy from the sadness still threatening to overwhelm her again. "I miss onee-san Haruka…," she said quietly and looked down at the bruised grass underneath them, her insides lurching painfully at the thought of the death of her sister. She sighed. "I wish she could've been stronger and just…played the martyr…but now that I know what she was going through…at times—
"Don't leave me here all alone." Sapphires widened and looked up suddenly at serious emeralds, Haruka's words dancing between them. "I promise I'll follow you…if you do that."
"Haruka—
"Don't play with me Michiru…I'm serious…"
And she was. The violinist had never seen the blonde sport such a grave look before, her emerald eyes showing not a hint of lie, deceit, or bluff. They continued to look at one another in silent contemplation before Michiru reached out and brushed Haruka's hair back.
"Be here for me and I won't."
They never broke eye contact, their faces one of complete somberness. "Promise?"
The violinist smiled and nodded. "Promise."
Michiru's smile widened, her heart feeling the lightest she's ever felt it as she dipped her forehead back down to Haruka's shoulders and hugged her tighter, feeling the blonde do the same as well. They stayed in that same quiet, comforting position for some time before they both started to retract, sure smiles on their faces.
"You alright now?" Haruka asked and smeared one last trail of tear from the younger woman's face.
The violinist smiled gratefully at her show of endearment and nodded. "Although…can I tell you something?"
The blonde looked at her as if she just asked a rhetorical question which she just chuckled at. "What is it?"
"I never showed my parents her note…" Emerald eyes widened in shock and Michiru could only smile back. She looked at Yui's grave before placing her hand on its smooth surface again and said, "When the right time comes…I'll show them…and you."
Haruka could only look on in confusion, but nodded nonetheless.
O--O
"Good thing you thought to reserve…it's really busy," Haruka stated and watched the milling of excitement happening inside the second story of Regency, glad that they had leapt passed most of the people and were seated right away.
Michiru laughed and nodded. "I figured since the whole day was my idea, it would be my fault if we couldn't eat in your favorite restaurant either."
"Hmm…" she sounded and looked on at the menu given to them earlier.
She was kind of surprised though when Michiru answered her question about dinner with an already reserved table at Regency. They would definitely be seen…but maybe the thought of them being just friends had more than quelled Michiru's mind into thinking it was okay to be seen together…as long as they were just friends.
"This is okay right?"
She looked up at worried sapphires and nodded. "Of course…why wouldn't it be?"
"I don't know," the violinist shrugged. "You seemed hesitant when I said it on the ride back."
Haruka smiled good naturedly and waved her words away. "I just thought since you wanted more seclusion since your album's been the word on the streets that we'd eat dinner somewhere not so…popular."
"Nh," Michiru nodded. "But you like it here…so I wanted to eat here with you."
The tomboy's smile widened at her words before she nodded in retreat. "Okay, fine we can eat here…" she stated in fake exasperation at which the violinist only laughed at.
The waiter came by momentarily and after ordering their dinner, left with not a lot more words.
Sipping her water, Haruka looked on at the younger woman's relaxed features and smiled, more than happy that her depressed state had finally completely passed. Remembering their unfinished talk earlier, she began, "Oh…your parents…how are they by the way? You said you'd tell me 'later' and now seems like the later you were talking about."
The violinist laughed and nodded. "They're good," she stated, and Haruka was relieved to see that she wasn't trying to hide anything with such a small statement. "I…asked them to see a counselor for their marriage…it's working out real well. They seem much more lenient with each other recently."
"That's good. That sounds wonderful."
"Nh, it is. Just the other day actually, my father called me up and asked me to not attend this Saturday's dinner…so he and okaa-san can spend it alone together."
"Heh…" Haruka sounded in mild amusement. "Watch out, they might sprout babies all of the sudden."
Michiru laughed at the other woman's words and waved it away. "Well who knows…maybe it's just what they need…although I think I would love to be the one to take care of it if it ever does happen…"
The tomboy smirked at the thought of Michiru holding a child that looked a lot like her…and then smiled softer at the thought of the younger woman holding a baby maternally that looked a lot like theirs…
"You alright Haruka?"
She looked up at her and smiled, hoping the melancholy in her eyes don't show. "Yeah, just thinking how weird it would be to see your old parents sprout another kid…"
As the violinist laughed, she only chuckled halfheartedly at the thought that a baby with red hair and sapphire eyes was the only realistic option in the future…and how depressed she would be when she would have to attend the baby shower and probably love the kid even more than the father because it came out of the woman she loved with her entire being.
She could keep it up, couldn't she?
First would be the wedding…She wondered briefly if Michiru wanted her to be a bridesmaid…and then kind of frowned at the thought of wearing a dress…but if the violinist wanted her to…of course she would. She would fight it, but if it made the smaller woman happy in the end, she would do it wholeheartedly.
She could picture them in the middle of the aisle…and when the pastor or priest or whoever asks about anyone disagreeing with their pact that she would just sit in the sidelines and just wait it out in quiet agony.
She wondered briefly how their first night alone together would go…and frowned at the thought of Michiru being held down by Jiro…on a bed. She shut her eyes briefly to take the picture out of her head, her frown becoming that much bigger. Then, as quickly as it came, her reverie left, her attention gathered by a warm hand stroking her cheeks. She looked before her in silent surprise at a worried violinist.
"Are you okay?"
Her smile came back almost automatically as well as her answer. "I'm fine…just zoned out a little."
But Michiru's worried look stayed…and she knew her little lie was discovered all too quickly. "Haruka…"
She swallowed her feelings down and gave a questioning glance, her smile dissipating from her features as well.
"I told you…this afternoon…that you were my best friend right?" The tomboy nodded, albeit in confusion, not really knowing where this was going. "So what am I to you?"
The question definitely took her aback. She wondered briefly if it was a trick question, but nevertheless answered, "You're…my best friend too. You're my confidante—
"Then treat me like it…" Michiru stated and looked at her seriously. "If something's on your mind, don't keep it to yourself…tell me. I want to be here for you as much as you are for me. Let me in too Haruka…"
They looked at one another seriously for a moment before the tomboy gave a nod and a smile. "I was just thinking…about your wedding actually."
Sapphires widened at words the other girl wasn't really expecting as Haruka gave a mere shrug. "Did…you want me to be your bridesmaid?"
The violinist's face cracked into an amused smile as she kept her laughter from going louder than it should. Sighing she looked up at the smiling blonde before answering, "I'll…let you know..."
"Heh…I'll at least get an invitation right?"
"Do you want to be invited?"
It was a serious question…one that Haruka didn't want to trifle with. She nodded and looked at the other woman evenly. "Of course…I want to be there for you so you don't feel as if you're alone."
Michiru looked away and smiled sadly. Sliding her hand upon the blonde's hand, she stated softly, "I'd appreciate that…more than you know."
They smiled at one another comfortingly and stayed that way in silence, the violinist's warm hands on top of hers feeling more right the longer it stayed. Michiru finally retracted it as their waiter came into view, his hands carrying their plates filled with food.
O--O
"Do you want me to take you up?"
Michiru looked up to Haruka and just shook her head. "It's getting late and you have work tomorrow as well. I'll be fine," she stated and smiled at the unsure face the blonde sported.
She unbuckled her seat belt and raised her hands to the blonde's messy locks, wanting to remember the feeling of it until she could do this again. Haruka could only smile at her.
"You're sure?"
She nodded and leaned in to share a hug with the only person in the world she could spend a day if not her entire life with and not get bored or feel a bit of monotony.
"Thank you for coming today Haruka. I really appreciate it," she said softly and hugged her tighter.
"Call me up…if you want to meet up at all within the week," the tomboy stated and hugged her tighter as well.
"I will…lunch or something."
"Sounds good."
They retreated from the hug as Michiru unlatched the door and stepped out, feeling the coldness of the parking garage enter her system. Looking back she said softly, "Drive safely Haruka…"
The young CEO only smirked. "Of course…"
She stood outside for a moment after closing the car door, neither looking like they wanted to leave. "Good night…"
Haruka's smirk could only widen. "Night…"
Another minute passed and they both laughed. "Go already!"
"Go upstairs!" Haruka exclaimed. "You don't have to wait for me to go!"
"Yes I do…now go!!"
The blonde laughed brashly and took it out of neutral and into the first gear. "Night Kaioh-sama."
"Same to you ojou-sama," Michiru answered and received an outstretched tongue out of the taller woman before she finally drove out of the parking lot.
Smiling to herself, she walked over to the elevator and pressed the button to her floor.
It was a tiring day, but she was glad it started and ended just as she wanted it to. She and Haruka were in good terms…they were talking…the long agony of not being able to be in each other's continued presence had come to pass. For now she was happy with this. As long as Haruka's beside her, she would be more than willing to just have her as her best friend. She wondered briefly how it could suddenly turn if she just…kissed her out of the blue one of these days…and blushed at the thought of bedding the taller woman again.
But she couldn't.
For one thing, they had set up a new contract…one of just being friends. Two…well Haruka hadn't given any sign that she wanted her in the same perspective, but maybe that was stretching it. She knew Haruka somehow felt something for her…but she didn't know what it was…whether it stemmed from this recent feeling of wanting to be friends with her or just missing her presence in bed.
Regardless of the fact…she was happy. It was an overall good day. As the elevator opened, she took out her keychain from her purse and opened the door. She sighed tiredly and got out of her heels that were already doing a good job on making her feet sore and slipped on the comfortable waiting slippers.
As she headed to the living room she suddenly stopped in her tracks as the presence of another person came into view of the dining area.
Her eyes widened a bit, her heart giving little palpitations.
"Where have you been?"
She frowned at a question that seemed almost too prying and looked down at Jiro's hand that held her cell phone.