FwB

by harukaze

No commitments. When you want to talk we can talk. When you want to act as if you don’t know me, I don’t know you either. Just as it started so casually, we can end it casually. Just say you’re done and we’re done. No gray areas…just black and white. HM

15. Day One

Chapter 15: Day One

She sighed inwardly, drowning out the voice of their new wedding planner who was showing her wide array of knowledge concerning color matches for the wedding invitations. Glancing to her left she could see Haruka's still sporting that frown ever since Keiko was introduced.

Michiru was not one to believe in coincidences. Of course she knew who the raven haired woman was…she could confidently say she remembered everything the blonde had ever freely told her since her past searching didn't happen too often and when it did, it usually meant heartbreak at the tomboy's end.

Her first love, huh? She kind of knew what her mother was up to and almost laughed at the sight of how far she's willing to go to tarnish Haruka to her eyes, but unfortunately for her mother, the blonde was already the perfect angel…at least to the violinist. She figured, she would just have to do this for as long as the young CEO could stand it…and then toss it like a rag doll when it becomes too problematic. Nevertheless, she hated the little stress it caused the blonde which caused her to come to a realization concerning their wedding planner.

She would show that she didn't matter…not to her wedding and least of all not to Haruka.

"So what do you think Kaioh-san?"

The violinist smirked. "Michiru's fine…Keiko-san. As for the color coordination, I think a simple gold upon white would do. It's bold, but fnot crass enough to merit a show of wealth and simple enough to avoid arrogance."

"But Michiru-chan, don't you like the way red and white seem to go together?" Shina asked.

She hadn't tuned herself out enough to completely stop listening to what Keiko was explaining earlier though which was the whole red and white going together…thing. She turned to Haruka.

"What do you think?"

She sighed inwardly again. The blonde seemed so preoccupied in her own mind right now. It was all she could stand not to go to her and just…hug her or something. Let her know she's there and to forget little inconveniences that pop up.

But the tomboy merely shrugged in confusion.

She sighed outwardly this time. "Haruka…you're supposed to help me here. Do you really want to wear that dress for the wedding?" She wanted her playful blonde back, damn it.

Emerald eyes widened at her small threat causing her to smile.

"Alright…gold and white sounds great," Haruka stated quietly and with another shrug.

She looked at her with concern this time. "Are you okay?"

She was quite aware of the many eyes on her, but at the present moment didn't care for them.

"I personally like the gold pressed on white," Jiro stated suddenly next to her. "Red seems too…" He was hoping for the blonde to cut him off like she had been having the knack of doing.

"Overbearing?"

Yay, there she went.

The red haired man nodded. "Yeah."

"We can add our own personal traits in it by tying the invitations with ribbons colored in green or marine blue," Michiru stated, looking at Keiko resolutely as she did so. "The invitations concerning Jiro's family can be sent with the green one and anyone else concerning my side will be sent marine blue ones. I think…we're done with the decisions concerning the color for the invitations."

Purple eyes locked with hers. "Are you—

"Yes. I'm sure."

The charge of electricity was pronounced as their eyes stayed locked together, neither woman yielding. Stoned smiles stayed on their beautiful features until Keiko couldn't stand it anymore and nodded before looking away. Michiru's smile merely widened slightly.

"Haruka let's go to the bathroom."

Everyone, including the blonde looked at her in confusion.

"You…can't go alone?"

"Mother, women always go in groups to the bathroom. It's…an unspoken rule."

"Then Keiko-chan can go with you."

"Okay, I guess I'll rephrase that. Women who are all friends go to the bathroom together. It's a bathroom…we won't do anything."

She rolled her eyes just in time as Haruka laughed crassly.

"But…since it's a bathroom…can't people do something in it?" the blonde asked, making her sigh outwardly.

"Haruka, don't fill my mother's minds with any misdeeds. Let's go."

She grabbed her by the wrist and led her to the direction of the restrooms, Keiko and Shina looking at them disapprovingly while Jiro could only smirk.

"You should do something about this Jiro-kun."

She could still hear her mother's insistence when they were already far back in the store.

"It's true though…" the onyx eyed man merely stated. "Girls always do go in packs in the bathroom…it's like an unspoken rule…"

Michiru could only grin.

Pushing the door to the bathroom aside, she let Haruka go in first before locking it altogether. Emerald eyes looked at her in askance as they stood in front of each other, the mirror and sinks to their left and the stalls to their right. Grabbing a handkerchief from her purse, the violinist soaked it partially with cold water and after wringing it out began wiping the blonde's forehead with it. The taller woman could only smile at her softly, handsomely.

"Are you alright?"

The tomboy sighed resting her hands on the smaller woman's waist as she bent her head lower to make it easier for her to continue her ministrations. Michiru smiled at the content look finally grazed on the blonde's features.

"Just a little shook up I guess," the taller woman stated while closing her eyes. "Your mother plays dirty…"

"If you knew that all too well why are you letting it get to you?"

Emeralds opened to meet inquiring sapphires. Sighing, Haruka could only shrug.

"Do you still like her?"

"Of course not—

"Then why is it a big deal?"

"It's not…"

"You're sure making it look like it."

"She's an ex…You're not supposed to meet up with exes anymore—especially if the break up was really, really bad."

"Show her that you've been better off without her."

"I have been better off—

"Show it."

Their eyes locked, Michiru knowing fully that hers held a look of competitive air…one the young CEO would not be able to just let go.

"Show her that she may have meant something before, but she doesn't now. Show her…the Haruka I know. I was genuine about wanting to know what you thought concerning all of these preparations, but…if you really don't want to be here, I don't want to push it."

"I want to be here."

"Show me. If she doesn't really matter…show me."

Emerald orbs narrowed at her words.

"If she does mean something show me that too—

"She means nothing to me."

It's all she wanted to hear.

Sighing moreover in relief than anything, she folded the handkerchief back in her purse and smoothed out the white dress shirt Haruka was wearing, along with her tan blazer. Slipping her arms around the taller woman's waist, she enveloped her in a hug and rested her cheek on her shoulder, closing her eyes as she did so.

"Feel better. I hate seeing you like this."

She smiled as she felt Haruka's arms surround her, her heart warming slightly as a kiss to her forehead was given.

"Sorry. I'll try better…"

"If you don't want to wear that dress, I sure hope you will," she joked, causing emerald eyes to twinkle in amusement.

"Yeah…I definitely don't want to wear a dress…"

Michiru could only laugh.

O--O

"I can call up my mother…she's very good friends with Chen Yuu."

The occupants of the table looked at her in surprise as Shina asked, "The calligrapher?"

Haruka nodded. "Depending on the amount of people you'd want for this wedding, I think having it hand written would definitely give it a more serious tone. He can do all the gold pressing and all that too from what I remember. It's just a matter of having the materials already brought and ready to use."

"That sounds great…" Jiro stated in awe and she could only shrug and nod.

"How soon do you think he can do it? Because we need all of these invitations out by the end of next week. It's imperative for the timing to be met," Keiko said, looking at her directly.

They locked eyes. "Have the exact words you'd need on the invitations and he'll probably be able to make a prototype by tonight."

"You seems so sure he'll say yes. He's…the best and most sought after calligrapher in this side of the world…I'm sure something so…last minute would make him think this whole thing rushed therefore not worth his time."

Her attention swiveled to the violinist's mother at whom she could only smile at. "He's my godfather…He'll make an exception if only for me. But…we'll need all the information for him. Time, date…where the wedding will take place. He'll only start working when there's absolutely no need for anymore questions."

"Guess that's our next agenda then," Michiru said simply beside her and gave a smile. "Thank you Haruka."

The tomboy smiled softly.

"Actually the next agenda was going to be the list—

"We can make the list of the people when the invitations are done or while we're waiting. Right now, having all the information for that is paramount so we'll be deciding on the place before doing anything else," the violinist said evenly, cutting off their wedding planner thoroughly. Turning to her fiancé, she asked sweetly, "Do you disagree Jiro?"

The onyx eyed man shook his head. "I'm your fiancé…I'm not supposed to disagree…"

She smirked and looked back to Keiko. "There you go. I think it's decided."

Haruka had never seen this side of Michiru before…so…fierce. It was completely turning her on…while of course making her look at her in awe. She always looked like such a fragile woman with the barest hint in the outside that she was so much more. She figured…the presence of another woman sparked this in her…and if only for that reason would she thank Keiko for joining in their wedding planning. Of course she knew the violinist was more than the kind smile; she'd be naïve to think otherwise. But seeing her this way in the presence of her own mother was…satisfying.

But her eyes narrowed again all too quickly as Jiro encompassed the smaller woman in his arms, a warm smile etched on his features.

"So honey, chapel or something less…religious?"

He's been doing these kinds of things all day…and if Michiru wasn't so smiley at the receiving end she would've pummeled him by now…But the violinist only smiled at him in amusement, tapping his cheek as she did so.

"Jiro…honey…" she stated too warmly for the blonde's liking. "It's for show for your entire family…What would they appreciate?"

"A chapel, but since it's going to be a Western wedding for their sake, I was hoping you would choose where it'll be held instead. What do you think Tenoh-san?"

She was trying to busy herself by looking at more decorations placed in the small store and only sighed inwardly when the question placed on her meant she had to look at their general direction again. She looked at them and smiled in melancholy as her vivid dream came back all too quickly.

"I think…because of the occasion, it would make sense if your wedding took place in a garden—somewhere along the lines of Kaioh Kei-san's tea house for example. Not necessarily there, but somewhere like it."

She seemed to hit the jackpot, because even Shina had given a wide eyed look of surprise at her statement.

"Well why don't we have lunch and I'll have my assistant do a search on some of the more disclosed tea houses around the outskirts of Tokyo," Keiko stated earning a nod from everyone. "After lunch we can all go to these areas and from there decide where you'd all want the wedding to be held."

It was getting stuffy in the small store so while the Kaiohs, Jiro, and the wedding planner busied themselves with buying all the necessary items needed for the invitations, Haruka made her way outside for a quick breather.

She opened up her cell phone and went through her call list. She already knew she'd be the one to talk to her godfather seeing as her mother was busy taking care of her load in the office and asking her to do one more thing like this was too much. Pressing the call button, she hoped he wasn't too busy to get an unexpected phone call from her.

"Haruka-chan?" an elderly woman asked from the other line.

"So intuitive," the blonde joked, causing a smile to light her face. "How are you Misa obaa-san?"

"Oh it's wonderful to finally hear from you," Misa stated warmly from the other line. "I've been good. Yuu is a little under the weather, but you know him….He'll work even under the pretenses of being retired…"

Haruka chuckled. It was good to know some things don't ever change. "That's good to know. I was actually wondering if he was too busy for…a small favor…"

"If it's for you Haruka-chan, I'm sure he'd turn the world upside down."

The tomboy laughed again, her heart warming slightly. "It's actually for a really good friend of mine. She's getting married and she asked for my help. I kind of told them you two are my godparents and it would be possible for ojii-san to make her wedding invitations." She ended with a slight apprehension in her voice, one that the older woman only laughed at.

"Well here's your chance. Anata, it's Haruka-chan."

She heard the slight fumbling noises the phone made as it transferred from her godmother to her godfather.

"Haruka-chan!" an elderly, vivacious man called from the other line.

Her smile could only widen into a grin. "Ojii-san! You busy?"

She was always less formal with him…opting to be more polite and…womanly when speaking to her godmother and more like old pals when dealing with her godfather.

"Depends…" Yuu stated. "You gonna take me out of this temple for a day or do you need me to stay in more?"

The tomboy laughed crassly. "Guess it's the latter…sorry ojii-san. I promise to take you out after though…"

But the old man merely laughed. "No it's fine. I'm sure a healthy young girl like you would rather hang out with friends or…a girlfriend…than an old man like myself."

"I'm sure you'd make better company anytime ojii-san."

A comfortable silence encompassed the line as Haruka only smiled easily.

"So? What do you need me to do this time?" Yuu asked.

"A good friend of mine's getting married. It's on a really short notice, but of course we want the invitations to look good once the guests take a look at it."

"A sort of here's what to expect thing?"

"Yeah, exactly," the tomboy nodded. "So I kind of went ahead blindly and mentioned you were my godfather to her and her mother and fiancé and I was hoping you'd kind of…back me up."

There was a bit of silence before crass laughter echoed in the other end.

"Oh come on ojii-san, you're not making this sound any better for me…" she grunted playfully, looking at the sidewalk and kicking some dirt as she smiled.

A sigh of content came out of the old man in the other end before he stated, "Give me the materials and everything I need as soon as you can and I'll be sure to have an example of what I'll be making for the entire thing. You need this by the end of the week yes?"

Haruka nodded. "Yeah, I told them to have all the information and all that ready for you. We're going to have lunch right now and go look for the place they'll want the ceremony to take place in and afterwards probably go to you."

"Sounds great Haruka-chan. We'll be waiting for you."

"Thanks ojii-san. I really appreciate it."

"Anything for my goddaughter…"

She hung up the phone in good spirits, breathing in the fresh air as she did so.

"Must feel great to be rich…"

She hadn't even noticed that Keiko was behind her until she made her presence known, feeling the slight ease from before dissipating completely. She decided not to beat around the bush, more for her sake than the other woman's.

"What're you doing here?" she asked in an almost interrogating manner as she pocketed her phone and turned towards the overall direction of the smaller woman.

She only laughed. "I'm the wedding planner—

"And I'm Michiru's best friend…now what're you doing here?"

They locked eyes, deeps, exotic purples looking at her in scrutiny.

"I don't know what you're talking about—

"Fine, but I'm not going to play your game," the blonde muttered lowly. "It's all great and dandy that it just happens that when Michiru asked me for help in her wedding preparations that my ex-girlfriend becomes her wedding planner and I should feel stuck in the middle. But I think you forgot to mention to Kaioh-san that you mean absolutely nothing to me—

She was cut off as Keiko stepped in her personal space, the smaller woman's long fingers gripping her collar roughly and placing their faces only inches apart.

"You seem to misunderstand Haruka-chan," she cooed, softly, feeling her warm breath in her face. "I'm merely here to show Kaioh Michiru-san that you have too many loose ends attached to you to keep her interest piqued. A best friend flocked by so many things from her past…From her end, as long as I'm the one who keeps interest it won't matter what you think. Isn't that all there is to rich women? I bet you bedded her once before just to appease her curiosity and now she's off to marry some rich man after having her experimentations done and over with—

"I dare you to speak about Michiru like that again," she whispered dangerously, her insides bubbling too greatly to feel satisfaction at seeing the small flicker of hesitation come out of the other woman.

The blonde stepped back out of the choking embrace in her own volition, her hands balled into irritated fists as familiar sapphire eyes met her peripherals, knowing full well that they already looked like they were doing so much more than they actually were. Keiko resumed her game and only smiled captivatingly, her malicious intent clear from where the blonde was standing. She wondered briefly how she managed to once love someone like her…and only thanked whoever liked her enough from up above that they showed her who she was before anymore attachments came with the relationship. Only one thing remained: if she didn't watch what she was saying, then the blonde wouldn't watch what she's doing…It was only fair to fight dirt with dirt.

"Where are we eating?" Her sudden question seemed to surprise the violinist, her eyes widening slightly as narrowed emerald eyes only looked at her in annoyed askance.

"You two seemed awfully close," Shina stated from behind the aqua haired woman, earning her more rage she needed to pent up.

She only looked at smiling gray eyes stoically. "Nh, I guess it's a lot harder to pry girls off me," she stated loudly and obnoxiously, earning surprised looks from the company around her as she locked eyes with purple ones. "You'd think they'd get the hint when you dumped them so many years ago, but you know, I guess it's all the same…ex-girlfriends and one night stands. They seem to want more than you're willing to give, almost begging for it like some hurt dog which gets me asking…will Shou be joining us as well? Because an ex-girlfriend in one hand and a one night stand in the other would make this whole thing so enjoyable for me."

So much for keeping it pent up…

She sighed outwardly as she met eyes with concerned sapphires, Michiru walking up to the space in between her and Keiko and rubbing her back as she did so.

"If you don't want to be here—

"I want to be here. We've spoken about this before…"

"Don't speak that way to me Haruka…"

She swallowed roughly as the chastising in the violinist voice was apparent, although her features still spoke of utter patience and understanding. She hadn't meant to sound so rude, but once again, her mouth had opened before her brain could properly digest the words.

"I'm neither…a one night stand nor an ex…girlfriend so…don't be hostile towards me."

She frowned at the other's words, but nevertheless nodded her head, her frown turning slightly apologetic. "Head's kind of spinning. Sorry…"

Michiru rubbed her back even more if only to appease the rage growing so deeply in her.

"On a friendlier note…I spoke to Yuu ojii-san. He's expecting us sometime this evening. I told him we'd have lunch and then check out the possible locations for the ceremony. If all goes according to plan, he should have a prototype done by tonight. If you'd like to wait for it to look as close as you'd like it to be, I'm pretty sure he's more than willing to work it out with you."

The violinist nodded graciously. "Let's have lunch and start looking if only to keep him from waiting any longer then."

As if on cue, Satoshi came from the corner of the street, parked the car near them, came out of the driver's side, and opening the passenger door for all to enter. He gave a warm smile and a pat on the back for the blonde as she went in, followed closely by Michiru and then the rest.

Haruka sat herself to the side, the violinist plopping down beside her, while Jiro and Shina sat at the very end and Keiko in front of the two friends. The car rumbled noisily forward…the silence in the limo thick and deafening.

O--O

He decided…making Haruka jealous was a bad idea now that there seemed to be other factors in play. He never knew the elder female Kaioh would play so dirty though…an ex-girlfriend? He wondered briefly if it would accomplish anything and then inwardly decided that…it probably won't since the blonde was already so hell bent on hating their wedding planner out loud.

"Here, looks like you need it."

He handed her a cold water bottle as the women thirty feet before them assessed the area. Haruka looked at him surprisingly before taking the bottle from his hand and opening it, bowing slightly in thanks as she did so. It was the third location they've visited and he could already see the discontent from the violinist's features.

"She doesn't like it…" he stated off handedly and wasn't at all surprised when the blonde nodded in agreement, probably already knowing that fact the moment they stepped out of the limo and graced the grounds of this new garden. "Do you know what she's looking for?"

He genuinely wanted to know because for him anywhere seemed like an okay decision…as long as they had a place already. Haruka looked up to the women while chugging more of her water down, her attention seemingly focused on everyone, but Jiro knew all too well that her eyes only stayed on the violinist.

"This place is too big," she stated with a shrug, as if it was already commonplace knowledge. "She wants a place she could feel a bit of comfort or at least a sense of familiarity in. This place looks like she's just flaunting wealth which I doubt she'd want people to acknowledge more than the importance of the ceremony itself. The first place was too small for the amount of people hinted from the invitations list and the second, she probably didn't like the way the owner was kissing ass so…"

Jiro laughed at her crassly put words. "So where do you think is a good place then?"

The blonde gave a thoughtful look before replying, "Kaioh Kei-san's tea house."

The red haired man couldn't help the sudden look of surprise. "Why there?"

"It's a place that has value to her since her sister's buried there."

It was such a simple answer and he almost kicked himself for not thinking about it himself. "Should…we say something?"

But the tomboy merely shook her head. "She already knows what she wants. It's just a matter of waiting for her to say so."

He looked at her words in mild surprise, suddenly feeling awed at what she had just said.

"You know her so much better than I do."

"You'll get there. You'll be spending more time with her than I will."

He didn't miss the hint of melancholy from her voice, and all of the sudden, he felt that his prolonged heartfelt apology to her was due.

"About the last time we spoke…"

"Don't do it again and it'll be as if it never happened," Haruka said simply, her eyes still focused on the women before them.

But Jiro only shook his head. "It…shouldn't be like that though. I was wrong…and if only for that I wanted to apologize and…thank you...for saying so. I know I was wrong…so…for Michiru's sake…let's get along."

Emerald eyes finally looked at him in quiet contemplation as he raised his right hand in the space between them, readying for a shake or rejection. They locked eyes, Haruka staring at him in thorough scrutiny. Then, about a minute later, she extended her hand as well and shook his already waiting one, causing a warm smile to flitter upon his face.

"We spoke—

"I figured."

"How so?"

"She doesn't look at you so forlornly anymore…like some sort of an obligation is the only thing attached to you. I figured since you were such a jackass the last time you two were together that she would look at you like that for a while…unless you spoke to one another to clear any misunderstandings left and to come to this conclusion you are in now."

He hadn't realized before that she was this perceptive…If so, he wondered briefly if she already knew Michiru's unending love and support for her and was just being the silent martyr the violinist was being as well for the sake of both of their well being.

"May I ask a personal question?"

Haruka merely gave him a questioning look, sipping some more of the contents of the water bottle down her throat.

"Is Michiru more than a friend to you?"

Emeralds eyes locked with his onyx ones and he could tell she was debating within herself about telling the truth or a lie.

"I won't say anything to her or anything like that…it's just…I want to know—

"So when you marry her you'll know it was my fault for any bad decisions on her part that may have been caused by an outside influence?"

"No…not at all! I just don't like being kept in the dark Tenoh-san. I already acknowledged to her that regardless of our husband and wife title, it'll only be merely a title if that's what she wants it to be—

"If you're asking for my opinion on that matter, I don't think it's impossible for her to love you. Give her your devotion and undivided attention and she'll probably grow to love you as much as her mother did for her father—

"I highly doubt that."

"Why not?"

"Here I was thinking you knew her more than I did."

He smirked at his bold statement which caused her eyes to narrow only slightly before turning her head away from him again and glance at the still busy figures of the women in front of them.

"The thing is, regardless of what you want to say, I have the biggest gut feeling that you like her…love her even," the onyx eyed man stated easily. "Why you're not just blindly going forward and telling her so is kind of a mystery to me."

"You know, the kinds of things you're saying to me right now are things fiancés aren't supposed to be saying to their soon-to-be wife's best friends…"

"I plan to be Michiru's friend even after the ceremony. It'll be done under the pretext that we're getting married under the company to build stability, but in the end I won't force her in a relationship she neither wants nor feels the need to be in. It'll be a partnership that—

"I hate you."

Jiro's eyes widened at her silent and dangerous words, her face stoically masked in belligerent indifference.

"You're the only one in this world able to hold the place as her fiancé right now and all you're talking about is civil partnerships and titles. You're the only one who can openly show the world you love her and you can't…you won't. You're a guy…act like it some more—

"Why can't you do it?"

She fully turned to him this time, slight anger, but moreover confusion etched in her masculine features.

"I know you love her…why can't you just say it out loud? Are you that much of a coward—

"Yeah…I am."

Jiro gulped at her easily said words. Emeralds eyes merely sparkled back.

"First off I'm too scared to face rejection because out of all the women in this world I know she's the only one for me. I already know that no one will ever compare so I'd rather fall off the face of this earth and disappear forever than confess my feelings for her only for it to backfire and for her to say she doesn't feel the same.

"Second I can't give her everything. There's only so much two women in this world can give each other even if they have all the money to spend. There are things only you can give her and I guess we can add that to the list of one of the other things I can hate about you too.

"Third, regardless of how independent she acts, she puts her family in a high pedestal. She wouldn't be putting herself through all this if they weren't important to her…so I think it's pretty selfish for me to go ahead and just blindly tell her how I feel without ever thinking about what she would end up with on her side, and regardless of what you think of me as, I'd never want her to go through that. I don't want to be the one to have to do it…"

They stared at one another evenly, the full extent of the blonde's feelings showing all too clearly to Jiro. His impression of her had definitely changed.

It had plagued him the entire week—this meeting. He was so sure he'd gotten her down…the playboy tomboy who was only interested in one night stands and short term things. A crass, boisterous, and arrogantly confident woman that knew where she stood in a relationship and was more than willing to stay there…to play the part of someone who was more than a friend and less than a lover, not really caring for the other party member, but at least looking the part until she was bored.

The typical stereotype that Gossip!Japan had pasted on her face for years; the person that wasn't the one standing before him.

It struck him then that they were so alike: Haruka and Michiru. Their personalities, at first, were like polar opposites, but given the conversations that they've had with him, it almost seemed as if…

He laughed outwardly causing blonde thin eyebrows to go up in mixed skepticism and irritation.

"I'm sorry," he said in between his mirth as she rolled her eyes at him and continued drinking her water. "But have you ever thought that…maybe she's like…your soul mate?"

And the water that was lodged pretty well in her mouth spewed out forcibly, sending some showers to go his way. Wiping a part of his arm and shoulders hesitantly, he cast a worried look at her as she coughed, Haruka sending eye-daggers at his direction as well.

"Well you know—

"Are you dumb or are you bent on hooking your fiancé up with me?"

"No! Well…" The red haired man scratched his head before putting his hands back in his pockets casually. "What if, you know…What if…she loves you back?"

"I wish you people would stop saying that…"

"What? You people?"

"Yeah, you and my mother."

"Well, maybe we have a point!"

"So would you like me to make your point completely valid, go up to Michiru right now, kiss her, confess to her, have this whole wedding in shambles, and the future of Kaioh-Miroku to look dim at least for her side of the family?"

He was going to say yes so quickly…until his brain pulled the emergency brakes, and that little bit of hesitation was really all the blonde wanted or needed to get his genuine answer on the matter.

She gave a told-you-so shrug and stated evenly, "I love Michiru. If you wanted to get to the centrifugal point of this entire thing, then I'll say it to you. But even you should know the consequences of what would happen if there was even the slightest chance that she likes me as more than her friend. I know it, she knows it, and now you do as well. Kaioh-san's trying her damndest not to let that kind of thing happen and that's why Keiko's in the picture now. We all know why this is happening so quickly…It's so things can happen before we can have time to think them through. I've learned to just go with it. She might not be happy now, but in the end, I think she will be. I think she and you will have the most perfect family with the cutest babies ever…and I'll just be there…As a lending hand, a support, her friend…whatever. I'll just be there. Until she can't stand me anymore."

Tenoh Haruka was nothing like Shigeru Toshiro…And he could finally see now how gut wrenching it is to see them like this. Sighing they turned away from one another and back towards the women who were still overlooking the grounds along with the owner.

"Let's say she does love you back and you found out," he stated softly. "What would you do then?"

"Is it some sort of a fetish for you to know your wife's committing adultery with another woman?"

"No…"

He saw her roll her eyes from his peripherals again.

"Would you act on it?"

"She told you everything, yeah?"

"About…your casual—

"Yeah."

"Yeah, she did."

"I don't miss that relationship."

His eyes widened slightly.

"It was nice at first…It was kept in the dark, we kept it to ourselves, we spoke, but in the end everything was done with sexual connotations and usually ended up with the connotations gone and just…sex. In the end I wanted to make it feel realer. I think that's why I wanted to punch you the first time I met you…because the public knew you as her so-called boyfriend, but I was just a fan, and to her…her secret lover. So if I were to find out that she loves me, and she's already married, I think it's only fair that we stop acting like private lovers and be more public. And it's not the fact that I want everyone to know about us…I don't really care for that. I just want to stop hiding sometimes…because although isolation's nice, it gets old. I want to be able to take her out, have her meet my end of the family and just…be with her. Which means, divorce at your end…because I'm not aiming for a 'mistress' title. I want the world, her parents, and you to know that she's mine and there's no sharing her…"

He couldn't believe how boldly spoken she was…Gulping slightly at her proclaimed words, he was starting to feel jittery that the entire relationship between the blonde and Michiru would be an unfixable one—that the only way everything would end properly with them was through unbreakable silence.

"I wish…Shigeru was more like you…"

Haruka looked at him questioningly.

"Yuu-san's ex-boyfriend," he answered the unspoken question.

She blinked at him before focusing her attention back to Michiru.

"When she died, my first gut reaction was to find him and just, choke him. She assured me that he wasn't the weak guy I met. She assured me that he would stay there and be there for her…but when pressure took over, he crumbled. He chose the deal concerning his parents' establishment over his relationship with her. I looked at the whole thing as a sort of trial. Shina oba-san and Shinji oji-san were just testing him…to see if he was worth it for her—to show her that if they were wrong and she was right, that it would be fine in the end. We could work their relationship out somehow and just…go along with a partnership…or something, but I think they just really wanted to know whether or not he was worth it…and he wasn't.

"He was the weak guy everyone's been telling Yuu-san…and I hated it…that I was so right about him—that everyone was so right about him. And I doubt it was the I-told-you-so's from everyone that broke her…nor the fact that she was wrong. It was that he wasn't there. He wasn't there when she needed him. He turned his back and left without telling her anything and it drove her to do something none of us thought she could."

The young CEO sighed loudly and drank the rest of her water down.

"Michiru holds you in this high place…as her best friend…maybe something more…I don't know. But—

"Don't worry about it. I'm not going to run away from something like this."

She didn't meet his eyes as she said this, but the resolute and honest look was there nonetheless. He gave a reassured smile at her direction and stood a little straighter as the women finally began coming to them. He could see the askance on his fiancé's face and just smiled a little wider for her.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, eyeing both of them as she did so.

Haruka was the first to reply. "Yeah…Jiro-kun and I were just having a heart to heart talk."

Sapphire eyes widened in surprise at her words familiar words that sounded nothing like how she uttered them a week back as did onyxes and everyone else in the general vicinity.

"Tha-that's good to know," the violinist said with a genuinely wide smile and looked at Jiro softly as well. "I'm glad to hear that."

The blonde only smirked. "Next site?"

Keiko nodded, a hint of irritation laced in her features. "The next one is in West Tokyo, a Whispering Gardens. It—

"Do you want to check that out or just go ahead and pick your grandfather's place Michiru?" Haruka asked in between the raven haired woman's words, making her narrow her purples eyes at her crass behavior.

But the smaller woman merely gave an amused smile and a sigh. "I think…I will choose ojii-san's tea house after all…"

"Why there of all places?" Shina asked, rounding on Michiru with the barest hint of worry in her posture. "It's not too small and it'll fit the amount of guests we'll be having as long as it'll be in the garden, but it's kind of out of the way for most people and otou-sama might not oblige…"

Jiro found her staring deeply in emerald eyes and smiled in amusement. "Well Haruka-san said it's because of—

"Yui onee-san."

Grey eyes widened as her question was answered all too quickly.

"I'd like it if the wedding were in that vicinity if only for that reason, but ojii-san's garden is pretty well kept as well, not to mention undisclosed. We can monitor all who will attend and know which ones aren't invited," her daughter stated softly and with a smile to Shina.

They stood in a kind of silence before the elder female Kaioh nodded in understanding, her lips pursed uncomfortably. "I'll speak to your grandfather about it."

"If it becomes too problematic—

"It won't dear. I'll speak with him. Don't worry yourself too much about it."

She nodded, albeit hesitantly as Satoshi opened the door of the limo for them.

Jiro was glad it had been taken care of quickly because he was getting antsy at visiting gardens that looked so alike, he couldn't tell the major difference in it at all. He sat beside his fiancé as Haruka sat to the side once more, this time joined by no one, Keiko and Shina opting to sit together instead. At least one thing was clear to him now…

It was a for sure thing that he'd keep his job…and that Michiru would somehow need to fill her end of the bargain without him saying the biggest obvious thing that the blonde liked her too…

O--O

Dusk had begun falling around them, and she was slightly miffed that the entire day had been fruitless at her end. She was being paid for two jobs here and neither one seemed to be working. For one thing, she really was a wedding planner and really did know how to tie all the loose ends concerning rushed weddings…but Kaioh Michiru wasn't letting her. Every suggestion she brings up gets shut down. The moment she speaks, she gets cut off. The worst part was…the aqua haired woman was usually right…and that was what irked her the most.

Second, she was supposed to be playing the part of an intoxicating vixen for a certain blonde that…somehow looked even more fascinating than she did back in Keio. She was half expecting Haruka to be like her old self: a woman who was torn between responsibilities and just wanted to be swept whichever way the wind blew her because what she wanted was already out of her reach. But she had changed…Of course she wasn't expecting her to be exactly the same blonde she had known, but she hadn't realized she had changed so drastically.

The Haruka she knew in Keio was quiet…kept to herself…an introvert. She had the looks that turned girls into puddle, but never fully realized or utilized it. She had stated once before that her only intention was to finish her business major just to get her mother out of that god forsaken company. She was…lost…before Keiko had let her in.

The raven haired woman sussed that it was a part of her charm before, her naiveté. The blonde's quiet nature was the opposite of the life she knew and she molded her into the perfect…lap dog. Three years…Haruka had followed her, like some tagalong. The fact that she was rich was an added perk…not to mention more than willing to do what she wanted, when she wanted it done, where, and how…She had even been easy enough to fool into thinking her little gathering with her friends meant just a harmless Friday night out for two years into their so-called relationship. Too bad she had gotten too careless…

She could still remember when the tomboy had found out. She was actually surprised that Haruka had been very quiet about the entire thing. After catching her and the guy she was involved with as well at the time, she had gathered their clothes from the floor wordlessly and tossed them at the bed, a quiet, "I'll be in the living room" the only words she said.

When they had gotten redressed, they stepped quietly in the living room to find the blonde sitting on one of the single occupant sofas, the barest hint of a frown in her face and her fingers stroking her lips thoughtfully as she did so.

"How long?"

Keiko looked down at the floor, her eyes flickering to the man next to her who was busily buttoning his shirt back on.

"Haruka—

"How long?"

This time her voice had a flair of irritation, yet those emerald eyes would still not look at her.

"T…two years…"

Her lips pursed a little, eyes narrowing some more. Then a nod before she stood up and finally looked at her, those emerald orbs devoid of any real emotions. There was no anger there as she had suspected, nor was there hurt or depression. Haruka simply looked…nonchalant…as if it's an everyday thing to find a girlfriend of three years cheating on her.

"I won't be in my condo tomorrow. Grab your things and leave the spare key. Do me a small favor and burn everything I've ever given you. If you don't take your things I'll have someone else take care of them. If you don't leave your key…" She paused a little, maybe to collect herself. "Just…leave your key…I completely insist. Other than that… I don't want to see or have anything to do with you again…Your friends, your family…you. Bye."

And with that, she left. Of course they had seen each other again, but they never spoke or even looked at each other. Haruka reverted back to her introverted personality and in a matter of one more year finished what she came to Keio for and left.

She hadn't thought that they'd see each other again, but apparently Kaioh Shina had been doing a little digging up regarding the blonde's past and only a week ago did she receive a phone call of the two job offers on the table. She figured it would be easy enough as…time healed all wounds, one would say. But she wasn't exactly ready to find such an…attractive young CEO.

Everything about Haruka had changed…from her demeanor to her posture, to her outright personality. She was so much more outspoken than she used to be…and the arrogance almost came out of nowhere. Of course she had read about her and the stories and myths in regards to her playboy persona, but the raven haired woman thought it all rubbish. She knew Haruka…and she didn't have a playboy persona. But…the woman before her…so wasn't the tomboy she knew…

She swallowed a little at her nicely sculpted face, her smooth jaw line giving her that handsomely masculine look. Her dress shirt fitted her perfectly, the two buttons at the very top unbuttoned nicely to give an alluring air. Her hair was immaculately wild, as were those enthralling emerald eyes. She smelled like the fresh spring wind, and the over all way she presented herself just gave an air of…unending confidence.

She was already so completely and utterly taken at what the blonde was freely showing…which reminded her of their small confrontation outside the store only that morning.

In the course of their relationship, she had never seen Haruka so angry. Of course they had their squabbles, but in the end, a small, meaningless apology from her part usually was the end of it. She had never felt real fear grip her until those emerald eyes bore right through hers and she whispered that almost threatening dare.

Only one thing seemed clear and obvious to her. Whatever it was that Kaioh Michiru is doing…she had done it back at the university…and Haruka was once again stuck in a little web of being someone's lap dog. She sussed her naiveté wasn't completely lost. But she'd just have to get to her somehow…crack that little mask she knew she was acting in and show that little girl she knew back in college.

She could get her to eat from her palm again. It was only a matter of time.

O--O

She sighed a little at how hard this whole thing was. Not the wedding preparations per se…Keiko and Michiru were handling it just fine. She was actually surprised at how demanding her daughter had been from the start…showing the wedding planner she had hired who was in control so much quicker than she thought she would. She knew that what she had done was the cause of it, and it may have been a tactless move…and, even more, if they were the "friends" she knew them as…they both knew why she hired Rai Keiko of all people.

But she could already tell that it's not working properly…her little jab below the belt at the young CEO. She's surprisingly resilient. She was aiming on throwing everything she had at the tall woman and show her exactly what she's getting into if she were to be interested at all of her daughter…but she hadn't expected her to be so…strong. When the shock left her regarding their wedding planner, she had reverted back into the blonde she had shown in her office; silent, but demanding, calm and collected. She was so sure she and Jiro weren't in the best of terms prior to this…but now…it seemed as if she's won one more person to her side. They were already in a first name basis!

Shina frowned outwardly. She knew it looked wrong to act like this, especially to someone her daughter held in high regards, but she had to continue on…if only for the sake of Michiru's future. She would need to bring out the Shigeru Toshiro out of Tenoh Haruka…but not prod at it enough that her baby girl would do something as drastic as her sister.

But what was it that made Haruka tick? She's no longer fazed by Keiko's presence…although the barest hint of irritation was still so obviously there. Whatever it was…she needed to find it, manipulate it, and then show her why she's wrong for Michiru. She needed the tomboy to be the one to give it up…if only to show her daughter that she isn't the woman she thinks she knows…Just as Shigeru was the one to give Yuu up. But this time they'll be there to comfort their daughter. They would not turn a deaf ear…And even then, she knew the violinist well enough to know she's not a woman to give up simply like that…but the extent of her feelings and relationship with the young CEO was at best, a mystery to her. She knows she loves her. She also knows Haruka loves her as well. So why aren't they together?

One of two possibilities. One: they don't know and are too scared to tell one another openly. Two: they know of each other's feelings and are trying to get over it for the sake of Kaioh-Miroku. The latter was the laughable explanation. Tenoh Haruka would not give a rat's ass for her company and she knew it…so it could only be option one.

So…she would just have to work harder for them to never think that there's a huge possibility that they could be together. That almost seemed close to impossible. It would call monitoring…at an hourly basis. She'd need to know where the two of them are every single day until after the I do's are properly stated.

"Haruka will you be at your beach house tonight?"

Her attention swiveled to her daughter's suddenly placed question, her eyes glancing at the tomboy for her answer soon after.

Haruka gave a small nod. "Probably."

"I have some clothes in the trunk…You said it'd be okay to take them there?" Michiru asked uneasily, but the blonde merely continued nodding.

"Yup…thought you did already actually."

"Been busy. Haven't been able to get out of the stations I've been booked into all week until very late when I'm jus too tired to make an extra trip."

The young CEO nodded in understanding. "Yeah, I've been wanting to get out of the city all week so…a slumber party sounds nice."

Gray eyes widened all too quickly at where this was coming from. "Mi-Michiru-chan, don't you need to go home tonight?"

Her daughter only gave her a questioning look. "No okaa-san. I'd actually prefer to be away from the city right now actually."

"Her fan base has turned rabid…" Jiro muttered. "I get hate mail all the time from want-to-be suitors… 'You're not worth her time.' 'You're tarnishing her beautiful reputation,'" he mimicked in exasperation. "Give me a break…Some of them even wait for me in the parking garage…It's unbelievable…My bodyguard's working full time and I kind of want a new condo now that I think about it more….Any opening's Haruka-san?"

Haruka chuckled at the look plea in his face. "Courier's Penthouse C's still open," she said and gave a shrug.

"Ahh the famous Gold suite. Shinji oji-san was all over that place…and then decided to get one more suited for his age I suppose. Which reminds me oba-san, aren't you two planning on a date…tomorrow?"

A small blush rushed through her cheeks as she cleared her throat, the blonde before her smiling widely as she looked away while her daughter could only look on in surprise.

"It isn't a date…it's merely a get together," she said evenly and gave her in-law a strict look. "I was actually hoping if I could…spend the night with you Michiru-chan…to speak some more of the wedding."

The aqua haired woman was obviously surprised at this sudden turn of event. "At…your estate?"

"Well…I wouldn't mind sleeping in…Tenoh-san's beach house. Maybe Keiko-chan can come too if—

"I'm…sorry Kaioh-san," Haruka cut off, looking uneasily as she did so. "You'd be surprised to know that I wouldn't mind if you come and spend the night, but Rai is completely and utterly out of the question."

Emerald eyes locked with hers, the seriousness of the situation obvious in her dark green orbs as she only looked at her, not at the irritated woman next to her.

"I mean, if you…want to monitor what your daughter and I are doing so badly, you're more than free to follow me wherever I go if she's around. We have…completely nothing to hide," the tomboy stated and shrugged casually. "But it being my property, I do have some set rules and I would never invite an ex in there…ever."

She wasn't expecting her to be so bold about the matter, but as emeralds only looked on in askance, she couldn't find it in her to disagree. It was the blonde's property and moreover she was invited to go ahead and come along. She glanced at her daughter momentarily who only gave a nonchalant expression at their conversation.

"Good, we can talk about the plans concerning tomorrow and where you'll be going for the rings," she stated quickly and with a small smile. "Jiro-kun can come too, yes?"

"Sorry oba-san, I have to meet up with my father tonight regarding tomorrow's plans," the red haired man stated with an apologetic bow. "He wanted to be kept up to date with everything that was happening with the wedding without looking as if he was more involved than you or Shinji oji-san wants him to be so we've agreed on a small nightly meeting about what happened today and what the plans are for tomorrow. If only to keep him informed."

She gulped a little at how awkward this suddenly seemed, but she knew she needed to stay resolute. "Alright then, it'll be just the three of us. It should be…fun."

She could only look uneasily at the amused smirk sported by the tomboy.

O--O

"So how did Chen-san become your godfather?"

All five of them were walking up the shrine steps towards the temple, the many stairs being more of a feat the more they ascended. Haruka and Michiru were leading, followed by Keiko who's labored breathing was already quite apparent, and Jiro trailed with Shina's arms gripping his, helping her up the stairs slowly, but surely.

"My father's father was friends with him when he immigrated here before he became widely popular for his calligraphy and when grandfather died, he became a kind of surrogate father for my dad," Haruka explained. "At the time, tou-san was already old so he didn't really need anyone's support, but he stayed close to Misa obaa-san and Yuu ojii-san. He got a lot of the money he needed to build the start of Tenoh Corporation from them…a kind of silent investor that never really wanted to receive anything in the end. You could say they were the sole reason for my mother and father's success, because if it wasn't for Yuu ojii-san's works that had begun getting a lot of media attention at the time, they wouldn't have had the financial ability to uphold the infancy of Tenoh Corporation."

Michiru smiled in awe. "They sound wonderful."

The blonde nodded as they finally stepped up to the last stair. They looked back just in time to hear Keiko curse at the amount of steps required to get up the shrine and then at Jiro and Shina who were just as winded.

"I…didn't fail to mention there were a lot of steps right?" Haruka asked in mirth.

The violinist laughed beside her. "No you didn't. Okaa-san, I said earlier that we could go by ourselves…"

"I know," the elder female Kaioh stated breathlessly, and stepped up to the area everyone waited with the red haired man behind her. "But I wanted to meet Chen-san as well."

The lie was so obvious it took everything in the young CEO not to laugh crassly. Instead, she just shrugged and walked towards the aging temple. The grounds were always kept so amazingly clean that she couldn't help, but notice that little bit of information every time she visited. Walking a little more forward, she noticed a small man make their way to them, the familiarity of his warm face sending a smile to brighten hers.

"Ojii-san!" she greeted and gave a low bow before hugging the man who was more than one and a half feet shorter than her.

"Haruka-chan, so nice to finally see you again," he said with a laugh and returned her pleasantries. His eyes glinted a little as they moved from the tomboy to the woman beside her. "Ahh I see you've brought your girlfriend this time around."

Sapphire eyes widened at his words as he encompassed her in a hug too, sharing an amused look with a silently chuckling tomboy.

"Treat her well young lady. She's very, very important to me and my wife." Glancing at the silent company behind her as well, he raised his glasses a little higher to his face before looking at them with squinted eyes. "And these…must be the groom and the bride and…the bride's…mother?"

She could see Shina begin shaking her head in disagreement, but she knew she would have to be the one to dispel the awkwardness. Stepping to the olden calligrapher, she slung her arms easily across his shoulders and stated, "Actually ojii-san, this is Michiru, the bride, that is Jiro, the groom, Michiru's mother, Kaioh Shina-san, and this is their wedding planner, Rai Keiko."

His chocolate eyes widened in surprise, the spectacles along his face making it bigger than it normally would be. "W-well I'm completely sorry," he said with laughter and gave a small bow to everyone. He sighed and nudged Haruka in the side. "Just when I thought you'd take a girl you're finally serious with to come see me…"

The violinist blushed in the moonlight as she could only bite her lower lip with an embarrassed kind of smile. "Sorry ojii-san. Maybe next time."

Yuu sighed loudly again and turned to the rest of the quiet group. "Well then, we should get started. Misa is preparing dinner so I hope you'll all be joining us, but as of now, let me see the materials you'll want me to be working with and we'll go from there."

Everyone nodded obediently, his sudden silent and serious demeanor not missed by anyone in the vicinity. They walked into the side of the small temple, the aroma of the food cooking wafting into their noses as the old man slid a random shoji door open. It was clear that this huge room was where he worked in the most, bits of scraps of paper littering every which way and inks and brushes strewn at every direction. Leaning against the walls to the side though were some of his famous creations including the original copy of a fifteen feet long scroll that he made for the current emperor's son's wedding vows only a few years back. Rich history almost spoke through the walls of his "office".

Sitting on his knees in front of a lowered table, he motioned for everyone to do the same as Haruka and Jiro handed him the paper and materials they had all bought that morning.

"Gold upon white, yes?" he asked as he spilled all the materials on the desk in front of all of them.

"Yes, sir," Michiru was the one to answer as an obvious look of disapproval came through his aged features.

"These materials," he started. "Are very flimsy. Not cheap, but obviously not expensive as well. They don't speak of elegance or refinement usually mentioned after the names Kaioh and Miroku."

There was a simultaneous widening of the eyes amongst mostly everyone in the entire table as only Haruka looked on in disinterest.

"Who is your friend here Haruka-chan? The bride or the groom?"

She smirked at his question as all eyes landed on her. "The bride, ojii-san."

Jiro looked at her uneasily as she added, "But the groom's an okay guy too."

Yuu nodded understandingly as he pushed the materials they brought for him off of his desk and onto the floor. "Haruka-chan's gift to you will be the invitations that I will be writing. I will take care of the materials and all else you'll need. All I want from you is the layout," he said easily, causing more eyes to widen in surprise from the group. "It will be free of charge of course and once I get the layout you want, it will be done by Sunday night. Get someone here to pick it up so it can go on its way."

They could only nod obediently as he summoned the fiancés to his side of the table. It would be all business from here and Haruka decided to leave them alone and go say hi to her godmother.

"I'm going to help obaa-san," she said as she got up.

She gave a reassuring smile to the violinist who only gave a thankful one back before completely heading out, closing the shoji door behind her as she did so. She made her way outside again towards the open plan of the house and into the kitchen, where the back of her godmother was in plain sight.

"Obaa-san, good evening," she greeted, causing the old woman to turn around with a pleasantly surprised look in her aging, but still beautiful features.

"Haruka-chan, it's good to finally see you again, child," she greeted as well, wiped her hands on an apron across her body, turned around, and hugged the tall figure of the blonde's wholeheartedly.

With her arms still around the old woman's shoulders, Haruka grabbed the lid of the pot and opened it up to reveal miso soup in one naturally made stove top and yakisoba noodles in another.

"I'll be frying some gyoza as well," Misa stated while patting her back and hugging her comfortably from the side. "You'll be helping me, yes?"

"Of course obaa-san," the tomboy easily stated as she leaned in and tasted the soup. She sighed in content and hugged the woman beside her tighter, feeling the warmness and familiarity of the soup settle itself in her stomach

As they parted, Misa began the preparations for the gyoza, pulling a medium sized bowl filled with grounded pork, garlic, and chopped cabbages already mixed together as well as a thin, circular flour mixture of what would become the wrappers. She diligently began wrapping the meat into the thinly rolled skins as Haruka pulled a pan after a long search and placed it on the wooden stove top.

"So," her godmother began. "Are you dating anyone right now or will your godfather and I die before we meet someone."

"Obaa-san, don't be so dramatic," Haruka stated with laughter in her voice. "But no…I guess there isn't someone right now…"

She ended in a kind of quiet trail, one she didn't think the old woman heard, but was surprised when a loud tsking became evident in the other end of the room.

"You are such a bad liar, dear," Misa said with a shake of her head and looked at her with a playfully disapproving look.

The tomboy could only laugh. "Well, it's not a complete lie…" she replied, trying to sound more convincing this time. "I'm interested, but…it's a little complicated."

"You two are both women…"

"You'd think that'd be the most complicated part, but no…"

The old woman looked at her in askance as she leaned on the stove, the heat of the appliance radiating on her back.

"How much more complicated can that get?" she asked incredulously, wrapping another gyoza up neatly and setting it on a plate along with ones she's finished already.

Haruka gave her a thoughtful look before stating, "You know the friend I mentioned over the phone?'

The gray haired woman only gave a distracted nod. "Mhmm, the bride…"

The tomboy's smirk grew wider as brown eyes widened at the too sudden realization and looked back up at her in shock.

"Yeah…the bride…"

Misa sighed loudly and shook her head. "Of all people Haruka-chan why—

"Haruka?"

Both of their attentions swiveled to the opening where the subject of their conversation came out.

"Michiru, what's up?"

She gave a heavy bow and a smile to Misa. "Thank you for having us tonight on such short notice."

"I'm used to the spontaneity that comes with marrying Yuu," the old woman stated with mirth, causing sapphire eyes to twinkle in amusement with hers.

"Obaa-san, this is Kaioh Michiru, the bride," Haruka stated with a nod as understanding dawned on the aged woman. "Michiru, my godmother, Chen Misa."

The violinist bowed again as the tomboy walked towards her.

"So…what's up? What do you need me for?"

"Chen-san wanted to know when dinner would be," she answered softly, raised her hand up to the blonde's face and, wiped a bit of soot that had managed to get on the taller woman's cheek.

The young CEO only smiled in amusement as her eyes graced her godmother's, a familiar, almost melancholic look upon on her olden features.

"That man," she stated loudly, wiping the look in her face as soon as it came. "You would think because of his passion he'd be patient and understanding, but when it comes to food, there's just no comparison. Tell him all we need to do is fry the gyoza and it'll be set. If he's done with his interrogation session concerning the invitations, do come back and help set the table will you dear?"

Michiru chuckled at her words, but nodded nonetheless. "I will Chen-san."

"Misa would be just fine Michiru-chan."

The smaller woman shared a smile with an amused Haruka before setting out, back towards Yuu's work station.

"I see…" Misa stated quietly, earning another amused chuckle from the tomboy.

She got up from her seat and took the plate full of gyoza with her. Wordlessly, she placed some more wood on the stove and transferred some of the already burning embers from the dying fire and placed the pan her goddaughter took out earlier over the slowly building flame.

Placing some oil in it, she asked rather callously, "Does her fiancé know?"

"That?"

"You two were once in a probably sexual relationship."

Emerald eyes widened at her words as she only looked at her evenly.

"Obaa-san…you are too perceptive."

"Does he?"
"Of course he does," Haruka stated and shrugged. "It's part of the whole complication. But how did you know?"

Misa continued to look at her until she realized that their eyes weren't in complete eye level and she was looking at her cheek instead.

"The way she touched you…looked like something a family member would do to another. She is neither your mother, your grandmother, your godmother, or your sister, so the way she touched you and interacted with you, looked the most like how a wife would be to her husband."

The blonde really didn't know what to say about that…and her silence was the one to plant the victory smirk on her godmother's face.

"I trust I can keep you alone with the gyoza? I need to bring the proper table wear out for our guests."

She nodded wordlessly and began depositing the dumplings in the hot oil, making sure all of it were turned completely in the same side as the old woman left the kitchen. As the smell of the frying food permeated the room, the presence of another person was missed by her until long arms snaked around her waist and a bony chin was placed over her shoulder. She froze a little, long enough to smell the unfamiliar perfume that suddenly pervaded her senses, her eyes narrowing only slightly at the sudden intrusion in her personal space.

"Get off," she muttered and grabbed a pair of tongs strategically hanging over the stovetop.

"Make me."

The sultry way the raven haired woman said the words made her almost want to gag.

"Seriously Rai—

"Hmm, calling me so informally by my last name without even honorifics…Haruka you've gotten to be so bold."

She could feel the irritation beginning to bubble out of her…and the other woman really needed to get off soon.

"Do you remember the first time we had sex?"

She stayed quiet, the memories from a long time back resurfacing from the small words that came completely out of nowhere.

"You were so adorable Haruka…You weren't a bad kisser first off…and you needed to work on your techniques a little more, but I guess just like everything it takes time."

She could feel her stroke her flat stomach, Keiko's long fingers going lower as time grew on.

"I was kind of disappointed when you couldn't give me an orgasm the first time…"

The disgusting feeling in the pit of her stomach finally came to a standpoint, her jaw clenching roughly in a vice like grip and her hands gripping the tongs just the same.

"But I guess it just took a little more showing on my part for you to get better."

The tomboy turned swiftly around, too quick for the raven haired woman to really react. Before she knew it, the blonde had pushed her against the wall, an unfamiliar, but nonetheless sexy look etched evenly on her face. They were close, their bodies pressed firmly against each other as the back of the smaller woman almost painfully kept glued at the hard wooden wall behind her, but she could only feel Haruka's body on her, the alluring cologne that filled her being beginning to cloud her senses.

Keiko was looking at her with the most submissive look she's ever seen, and it almost made her laugh at how easy this whole thing was. She felt the other woman's body gyrate automatically as she drew her leg closer, not enough to feel the middle of the raven haired woman's thighs, but enough to sense the heat radiating off of her. Her purple eyes were beginning to fill with lust, the only emotion screaming out of the half lidded orbs a submissive one.

The tomboy licked her lips suggestively and leaned closer to her face. She looked up just in time to see the other woman's purple eyes close before finally being near enough to hear the shallow and excited breaths coming out of her opened lips.

She smirked and cackled inside.

"You wish."

She pushed herself off the wall as her spell was broken, an irritatingly handsome smile in her face and purple eyes looking back at her in widened shock. She backpedaled while merely smiling wider, the mischief in her emerald eyes clear to Keiko.

"You…wish…" she repeated and turned around, laughing inside more than out until her eyes met with surprised sapphires.

Crap…

"You're such a tease Haruka…" the woman behind her stated in the sultriest voice she could muster given the situation.

Her smirk fell as Michiru only looked at her quietly, an unfamiliar look on her beautiful features. She had meant to play around, but hadn't thought of getting caught…She sighed loudly.

Everyone stayed quiet…her mind itching at her to say something that could dispel it.

"Want to help me with the gyoza?" she asked the aqua haired woman and almost wished she could read her mind telepathically as she kept her silent mantra of, Don't believe it, don't believe it echoing in her head.

The violinist only gave a melancholic smile back and nodded once.

She felt like a hypocrite…her whole "I'm not a playboy" speech from last week taunting her as Michiru merely walked to the stove and looked over the food, the tongs she had dropped on the counter earlier getting picked up silently.

She helped her steam the dumplings as the crispiness on one side was finally apparent just in time for Misa to come back, their wedding planner still quietly standing on one side of the room and the entire scene looking none too comfortable for anyone.

O--O

Day one of the wedding planning had been safely evaded with little to no casualties. Her heart was hurting a little, but it shouldn't be considered a casualty…not for a martyr like herself.

She sighed as the picture of Haruka pushing Keiko into the wall suggestively filled her mind…how their bodies had been pressed so closely together. She knew what it entailed—the blonde's blunt words of, "You wish" still echoing in her mind, but it still didn't relieve her of the dull pain that had flared upon seeing the tomboy with another woman so…close. It reminded her fully of the relationship they had before…and how badly she had missed that wild and sexual side Haruka only showed her in their times of brief isolation.

She felt that familiar warmth settle itself in her core as she closed her eyes tightly if only to push it out. She wanted to be held like that again, if only for a minute.

She raised her hand to her temple and massaged it roughly.

It had graced her mind before…what Haruka and another girl would look like in between throes of passion. She thought of Hikaru as that girl for a while…until last week when it became all too clear that it had never happened. She would never want to see her Haruka pressing some random woman against a wall and having her way with her, which after what happened today looked like it would happen one day.

She had imagined it before…walking into this beach house and interrupting the middle of a make out session the tomboy would be having with some girl. Imagining it already gave its obvious air of awkwardness…She couldn't even fathom how it would be like to actually be in it.

She had a little dose of it today…a little taste. And although she knew Haruka was just playing around and being mischievous this time around, she would one day stumble upon the real thing…and she couldn't for the life of her imagine how it would feel.

Her heart ached at the prospect—hurt so unusually badly that her hand had flitted to where it stood above her breast and pushed her palm against it thoughtlessly, to maybe alleviate the pain. She gulped roughly and bit the bottom of her lower lip.

"Michiru-chan, are you alright?"

Her attention whipped to her mother, unable to take the pained expression off of her features fast enough. Shina's eyebrows creased in worry.

She gave a brief nod before nonchalance flittered through her beautiful features. "I'm fine okaa-san. Is the guest bedroom not to your liking?"

The elder female Kaioh shook her head as she gave the master bedroom a look over. "It's fine. Will Tenoh-san be okay in the living room?"

"She insisted on it, so she probably will be."

Dinner had been a neutral affair in which nothing much except questions about the wedding were asked by the couple and after an hour or so more, the party of wedding planners had left with the promise of coming back on Sunday and thanking Haruka's godfather for his wonderful gift and time as well as the dinner Misa had prepared for them.

They had dropped Keiko off at her place of business first, the raven haired woman unusually quiet for the duration of the trip and then dropped Jiro at the Sugiura Estate. Finally, they made a little detour to the Kaioh Estate before finally heading off to Haruka's beach house to spend the night, Shina insisting that she wanted to come along as she had done prior to their visit at the Chen's.

The tomboy gave a brief tour of the small beach house to her mother at their arrival and afterwards completely insisted in the two of them taking the master and guest bedroom, opting instead to stay in the living room for the night. She had been distant and quiet since the incident in the kitchen, leaving Michiru to ponder all the more at their situation.

"You and Tenoh-san had been oddly quiet since we visited the Chen's…almost as if you're mad at each other."

Her mind had stopped wandering again as Shina's voice broke through it. Looking up at concerned gray eyes, she only smiled and gave a weak shrug. "Everything's fine." And then looked away, her smile turning into a mocking and asking one. "Shouldn't you be happy?"

Her mother's worried look turned into a frown.

The aching feeling in her heart hadn't alleviate as she walked towards the bed, smoothing the covers out at first before sitting down on it, motioning for Shina to close the door and join her. The elder female Kaioh did just that, shut the door behind her, walked across the snug bedroom, and sat across the violinist who by now had her legs in front of her, hugging her knees to her as she did so. Michiru placed her cheek against her kneecap and only looked at her mother in melancholy, the older woman growing more worried as the seconds ticked past.

"What don't you like about Haruka?"

It really was a too sudden question. She could see her mother's gray eyes widening uncomfortably as she shifted in her position.

"I know this may sound weird…even sordid coming from your own daughter, but she really is a beautiful woman," Michiru said softly, her eyes flickering away from Shina and onto the floor before them. "I think if you gave her just one try, you'd grow to like her and if anything, I think you're afraid of that happening…so you're pushing things like Rai-san in her way."

The dull pain in her heart was getting more apparent, but she ignored it as best as she could and only continued on.

"I hope that by the end of this whole ordeal, when Jiro and I are married that you'll see pass all the things you think her as, and just…look at her. I hope you'll see the woman I know…and the person Jiro has also come to see because she's not a bad person and I wish you'd stop seeing her as one. If she were she wouldn't try so hard when you're around, nor like Jiro even though she has ample reason not to.

"She's crass by nature…and says and does things in a boisterous manner. She could be a flirtatious playboy when she feels like it...and I know that if it weren't for me she would've slapped Rai-san by now and told you insensitively of her feelings…but she keeps these things at bay if only for me."

She locked eyes with silent grays, a melancholic smile on her face.

"So if it's not too much to ask for okaa-san please give her a chance," she said softly, the lump in her throat beginning to form bigger. "You don't have to like her or force yourself to like her, but…be a little more sensitive. She may be just a lesbian to you, but she has feelings. She may be a tomboy, but she gets hurt…and at that, really, really easily…and I don't want to see that. I know you have your preconceived notions of her and she probably has some of you…but…I love her…and I wish you weren't so callous."

The repetitive throbbing of her heart finally reached its unbearable point so the violinist merely closed her eyes and let the tears fall. Her mother only stayed quiet during the entire thing and after a few more minutes of wiping her eyes dry with her camisole, she stood up and gave a small sigh.

"I'm going to go downstairs and see if Haruka's okay for a little while. Good night, okaa-sama."

She bent down to Shina's sitting figure and kissed her cheek softly. A sad smile graced her features before turning and finally leaving the room altogether, making her way downstairs.

Feeling just a bit lighter after her "talk" with her mother, she chanced a peek at the blonde before making her presence known. She was finally out of her dressy clothes and into a proper nightwear: a white short sleeve shirt and a pair of nylon shorts. She smiled at her cute hunched over form and finally noticed what she was bent over doing.

"Are you working?"

Emerald eyes swiveled at her direction, wide and a little surprised. Haruka could only smile sheepishly.

"Yeah…I managed to take some out yesterday without my mother knowing."

"Haruka…"

The blonde merely laughed at her failed attempt to chastise her as she finally came out of her hiding spot and walked towards the other sofa, glancing a bit at the bunched blanket and pillow at the end of the one Haruka currently sat on.

"Are you sure you don't want your room?"

The tomboy shrugged noncommittally. "I'm fine down here," she said casually and pored her attention back at the packet in front of her.

"We have another long day tomorrow…you should sleep…"

"I'm fine."

She sat down on the loveseat facing the right of the one the blonde was sitting on as silence swept the room. She could hear the winds howling outside as the waves crashed dutifully on the shore, causing a kind of bitter cold to enter her system. She shivered uncontrollably and looked at the fireplace that hadn't been turned on.

"I can probably sleep with my mother in the guest bedroom…"

"Michiru…I'm fine…"

She swallowed as she heard the barest hint of irritation from the tomboy and nodded understandingly. Silence pervaded the room again as she laid down and curled herself in a fetal position on the cold sofa, her arms coming around her body as her camisole rode a little higher and her small white shorts became noticeable underneath it.

She had been feeling so depressed since they came back from the blonde's godparents' house. They hadn't spoken about the incident in the kitchen, but the violinist didn't really think they needed to anyway. It was just the prospect of seeing how dim the future looked…that she was going to be married and that Haruka was going to belong to someone else.

She looked up at the tall woman with half lidded, melancholic eyes, feeling the distance between them become so much farther than just several feet. She swallowed the growing lump in her throat that had once again made its presence known and merely stared inattentively at the darkened fireplace, her body getting colder as time ticked slowly on.

Her mind was urging her to feign sleep just so she could get back upstairs and away from the uncomfortable silence that had plagued them, but her pained heart felt resolute on staying, if only for a few more minutes. She wondered briefly how often they would be able to do this after the wedding and felt the familiar stinging in her eyes again at the knowledge that it won't last.

She dammed her tears for the sake of not crying in front of Haruka.

Feigning sleep seemed the best option all of the sudden, but just like the last time she slept here, the master bedroom felt like such a deathtrap without the blonde in there with her. Everything smelled of her, but she wasn't in the room…The coldness seeping in the living room sofa felt even more welcoming than the beckoning warmth of that room's huge comfortable bed…at least the sofa didn't taunt her of the tomboy's missed presence.

She turned over to the other side of the sofa just in time to hide a stray teardrop, her fingers coming up gingerly to wipe it quickly away. She stared at the leather markings and rubbed her eyes some more as her view became blurrier.

"You should go upstairs and sleep. You look tired."

She closed her eyes and curled her hands under her cheek, using them as a makeshift pillow.

"I think I'll sleep down here." She was kind of surprised that her voice was clear and didn't crack regardless of the amount of pain the pit of her stomach and her heart was pumping in her body. "Go ahead and go to your room."

"Michiru, I'm fine down here…"

"I know…But I'll probably get more sleep down here anyway."

"Is something wrong with the room?"

She shook her head, her breaths beginning to feel a bit labored and hard as her heart thumped all the more.

How can I tell you that I can't sleep in there without you?

"I just…feel more comfortable down here…that's all."

The goose pimples in her arms and legs prickled out as her hand came out from underneath her head and pushed at her heart again, the aching feeling escalating even more, much to her dismay. She suddenly wished Haruka would get hit by sleep and agree with her…go upstairs and leave her down here by herself.

She didn't notice the sudden silence where even the shuffling of papers stopped. Nor heard the slight squeak the other sofa made as the tomboy got up from it. Pushing at the spot where her heart is, she let out a pained whisper that only she would be able to hear…if Haruka wasn't standing beside her.

Her eyes opened in surprise as she felt the weight of the sofa change, looked up at worried emerald eyes that hovered over her as the blonde laid herself on the sofa as well, her knees and hands propping her up as she did so. Their positions were questionable given that Haruka was literally on top of her, but she couldn't think about it, only resolute on wiping what she knew was the saddest look upon her face.

"Don't do that…not to me."

She gulped and looked away, another tear making its way out of her eyes.

"What's wrong?"

She shook her head and bit her lower lip, not able to meet the pools of concerned emerald over her.

"Just…a little stressed…that's all," she whimpered softly. "I'm fine…really…just…you're right. I need sleep…so…"

She trailed off as Haruka only looked back at her, the same worried look engraved on her face.

"I wish I knew what to do to make you happier," the tomboy whispered and it felt as if her heart had burst into flames at her words. "Stop carrying the burden all by yourself and give me some…it's what I'm here for."

They locked eyes, Michiru's hands coming up to grip the blonde's t-shirt unconsciously. She dipped down with a small smile and nuzzled the violinist's cheek affectionately, her nose trailing the smaller woman's smooth cheek and down to her jaw. And it was all Michiru could stand not to turn her head slightly just for their lips to accidentally meet. She gulped loudly and closed her eyes instead as she snaked her arms across Haruka's waist, pulling her down on top of her.

The weight of the taller woman on her felt comfortably nice, her even breathing tickling her neck some.

"Let me get the blanket and pillow and let's go to sleep okay?"

She opened her eyes again to see asking emeralds. She smiled softly and nodded, feeling Haruka peel herself off momentarily as she walked towards the other loveseat and grabbed the blanket and pillow that was placed there.

"Our bed seems to get smaller and smaller," she joked and Michiru couldn't help the laugh that came out of her.

"I can grab the blanket from your bedroom and we can just sleep on separate sofas…" she suggested quietly, but the tomboy shook her head.

Wordlessly Haruka pulled her head up and deposited the pillow under it. Next, she unfolded the blanket out to its real size, hovered it over herself and as it covered her like a cape would, she straddled the violinist much like she did before and fell softly on her, covering herself and the small woman successfully.

"Comfortable?"

It seemed like a silly question to Michiru…but she could only smile genuinely and nod. She felt good…The thumping in her heart would be alleviated if only for several hours where they could once again be under the same blanket. She could forget her worries momentarily and just feel Haruka. She gingerly snaked her arm back around the blonde's waist and sighed in content before closing her eyes, smiling at emeralds that twinkled back at her. Tomorrow would be another long day…but she'd worry about it when it came. Right now was all that mattered.

"Night Michiru."

Her smile widened as sleep began pervading her senses. She was able to summon enough strength to carry her hand and place it on the blonde's smooth hair, reveling at its softness and brushing it almost mechanically as she did so.

"Night Haruka."

Gray eyes could only stare forlornly at them from the darkened staircase.

AN: Alright…so…why aren't they together? I dunno…-.- haha…I…don't…know. Anyway…umm…I guess there's one Japanese word here that might be unfamiliar given the term I put it in. Misa called Yuu anata in here which means you, but given the rough translation and their relationship, it was meant to be a term of endearment like dear or honey. Oh…and there might be some confusion regarding obaa-san, oba-san, ojii-san and oji-san. Two a's and i's at the end of the word like obaa-san and ojii-san are for calling grandmother and grandfather. One a and one i at the end like oba-san and oji-san is for aunt and uncle. I personally enjoyed giving each of them a little life and perspective during the entirety of the day/chapter. Personal favorites were probably the conversations: Jiro with Haruka and lastly Michiru with her mother. I hadn't meant to make the mother and daughter "talk" about Haruka so quickly, but when it just started coming out I couldn't stop it…so I guess that's where my story's headed. Other than that, I'm not sure how detailed I want the wedding preparations to become because…I hadn't meant to make this story this long. I seriously thought it would be shorter word-wise than HP and like…at the max 14 chapters…which…obviously isn't gonna happen so…I'll just write. Hahaha. I'll write all the details that I want to given the characterizations that I want to produce and if you guys start getting antsy…I'm sorry. But…it'll probably go longer than I was thinking it would given that I would rather make it long and without any corners cut than having it end sooner, but with questions left unanswered. With that, hope everyone enjoyed the chapter and again I may not update on time next week given my hectic schedules, but I write whenever I can and hopefully I will update on time.

petiyaka: Shina…well I guess she's trying haha. We'll see how far she gets into ruining the wedding without ruining it shall we?

LaCazadora: Keiko's not doing that great so that's good to know right? See you next time.

t.: I can't end the chapter like that?? Why not?? It's a feasible place to end…XD Glad you never hated Jiro's character 'cuz I find it easy to write about him. Haha the whole sleeping in the sofa fully knowing Shina's in the beach house with them was kinda bold…we'll see what Shina does about it next chapter. Richie Fields? He…doesn't really fit anywhere. He's just an OC designed for being CEO of Lantern Corp. who is the rival of Haruka's company. He doesn't play anymore important parts than that. Haha…I'm not that slick…XD

Kilohe: I've been so busy juggling this, life, school, and wow that…just like that sentence, wow's been kind of last. I haven't played all week until last night haha. As for the words falling off a cliff…z o m g. You just completely used one of my acronyms in wow. My friend used to say DIAF when I'd say something crass which means Die in a Fire and I'd tell her to FOAC…hahaha XD Completely made up but glad it's being of use. Jiro'll end up being a lovable character imo…Keiko in the other hand…not so much.

Haruka Akira: Long?? It's once a week buddy! Calm down! Haha Glad I got to satiate that appetite for a big read nonetheless. Haha…this chapter…well…I guess it's nice to see it from other people's perspectives at times and I went over the edge with this one. I kind of debated getting the Chen's perspectives too, but I said never mind and scratched it. Haha yes…yes Jiro will definitely compare Shigeru to Haruka…as they spoke about in this chappy. And well…even though it wasn't as cheesy as you wrote it, that's technically what happened hahaha. There was nuzzling…in this chappy…Do friends even nuzzle? I was thinking about it and I'm like…well…it's not kissing…therefore…okay right? XD god…they're so not together yet…whyyyy?? (I can't believe I'm the author sometimes). Haha…dialogues eh? I kind of tried to work on it this chapter although there's probably some where it's still confusing so sorry. I'll try to look out for it, but if there's anymore you want me to change, go right ahead and say so.

hunter007: Haha it's so not working though, but Keiko's not done…be sure of that. Jiro and Haruka are now on a first name basis…XD And I'm kind of excited to write the next scene that they'll be together haha.

RaginFireDesire: Keiko will try…Haruka's not the same as she remembers her being, but she's definitely trying.

Mantaray: Haha, I wonder if that's it for cliffies…the way you guys react is funny so I wanna put more of it in. XD Nope first week wasn't too hectic, although I have several pages of homework due…I'll get it done. As for future "scenes", I have not gotten started at all w/ ch16 yet…so I kinda know where it's headed, but yeah…Only a matter of time til my schedules get to me though haha.

Akira-kun: Haha you know…I don't mean to make these twists happen all the time…they just kinda do. I'm like…how can I spice it up a bit? Oh…okay…add that, sure, why not? Everyone's pretty much pounding their head on the wall regarding H&M's blindness regarding one another huh? XD Stupid evil authors…Sorry for the cut off reviews, but I'll see you next time as well.

konekokoi: Haha, Haruka's dream. I didn't realize she had a dream until I wrote that scene…and then went geez…that's hella emo…it won't happen? Are you sure? /evil grin.

Swinging Cloud: haha I'm a shameless, sly dog. XDDDD I didn't realize the ending was gonna be that dramatic…until it happened, but yeah, I guess there was quite a bit of angst and drama in here although not as much as you probably thought given that H&M didn't wanna look like Keiko's presence bothered them. You're welcome about Jiro being decent XD Haha reading in the middle of the day seemed more plausible. Glad it could fit in your schedule.

YinYangTwin1: Keiko is in regards to chapter 5 when H&M were talking about past flames. She is Haruka's first and probably only serious GF that taught her everything she wanted to not be like in a relationship. They were together for 3 years back in Keio and…she cheated on Haruka for two years of it…w/ a guy. Haha…-.- I think I should write for those daytime soap operas. Yep, Jiro's not that bad of a guy and well I can't say the same for Keiko…haha.

Vanessa Riverton: She'll try to pull more drama next chappy I think…but haha we'll see just how far she'll go. Michiru's perspective said it outright…when she gets tired of Keiko or when Haruka can't stand it anymore she'll throw her…so expect a Michiru Keiko stand off XD.

AlterEgoErin: Jiro's a softy…mhmm. I debated on Michiru telling him everything at first, but because of where the conversation was heading and how she knew she couldn't turn away and have everything still kind of iffy towards them, I needed to get it all out in the open. He gets to keep his job yay! He's happy XD hahahaha it wasn't it…it wasn't it in this chapter either and even the author's going…why not? Why aren't they together yet?? This isn't even prolonged angst anymore…it's like…just prolonged…hahaha. XD ok, ok you're not weak…you're so convincing…mhmm :D Haruka's dream is totally depressing isn't it, but hopefully it won't happen. But…cute Jiro/Michiru babies?? Wouldn't that be adorable? No?? O.O don't get a pitchfork…please…it was a joke. Shina will try her best to strike Haruka down…but at the end of the chapter…what Michiru said definitely affected her…since she saw how they were in the sofa…and continued to just look instead of break them up. :)

MisatoCarey21: OooO yes…Shina and Yoshiko…I think will meet next chapter. At least my mind's saying they will so yeah, look forward to that. Haven't written it yet, so it's not a solid fact. Yeah, I'm slowly learning to give depth to the story by writing it in just not H&M's perspective, but those duly involved. That's why I decided to write a piece of everyone in this chapter. Glad you liked and was able to create the scene w/ Jiro talking with Michiru in the car and…haha good bet. Yeah, Michiru and Keiko…well it's already happening. You can see Keiko's opinion of Michiru and Michiru kinda just tosses her opinions aside purposefully, but I am planning on a confrontation. Should be fun to do.

philk: HAAHAHAA steamy reunion. I completely agree…they don't act like best friends…ohhh wait…I lied. That's how my best friend and I used to be…oddly enough. Well…I guess it's moreover I liked her and was putting moves on her and she did not just get it…and well…it seems weird…where they're coming from, and a lot of people will say god, open your eyes. But…at some level, I hope it's a little real as well, given that they are scared of really opening up and…that steamy reunion…won't be for a while haha. Meanwhile Jiro will munch on the cookies appreciatively.

Black Caballiere: Haha yes, he was once a jerk indeed. Yeah, I liked the comfort level during lunchtime too. Shina…will try to be evil. I'm still trying to learn her character myself. You'd think I have these things down being the author and all, but for some reason I write…and it seems like they grow by themselves so…we'll have to see how she's like. Another cliffy?? Haha…cliffies are your friends…don't be so angry at them. Oddly enough, I've been able to wake up at 630 in the morning even after not having done it for months on end…sleeping at 4, 5 or 6 in the morning and waking up at…1, 2, or 3 in the afternoon haha. But yes, health is a big priority, but sometimes…writing seems…so much more important. Guess it's the writer in me.

mrerice: XD Glad you don't hate Jiro anymore and I personally like his second heart to heart talk with Haruka in this chappy.

Nekomi Kaze: Will she go through w/ this wedding? It's geared to be that way huh? Haha…that seems so movie-ish. "Is there anyone who'd like to object—"Yes! Me!! I love her!!" "Wait aren't you the maid of honor?" "Yeah? So?" XD Well…according to Haruka, she knows exactly what'll happen when/if she confesses. Companies will be in shambles, relationships broken, families confused. Well…haha all in the name of love? We'll see.

Thepillows93: Haha you missed the last chapter? It's good though…reading two chapters is better than reading one. As for your review…I think you need sleep…haha. You seem hyper. But no…Keiko won't be like JLo from Wedding Planner…She's a little more direct at getting the maid of honor than the fiancé.

Garfield: Yep, Keiko is Haruka's ex.

wolvesorrow: Haha Jiro knows how to be a pleasing OC, how nice of him. Denial…XD nuh uh! Breaking Keiko and Shina's necks…Keiko…I don't think anyone would mind, so go ahead and break hers. Shina…well, that's Michiru's mom…I think Michiru'll mind…

Galinda Thropp: Haha three minute register. I registered so long ago I don't even remember how it really goes…Well I'm glad you got to make an account nonetheless. The ending, I've promised everyone a nice one…haha. I think pple will come after me if I do a complete 180 and just…have babysitter!Haruka in the epilogue hahahah. Oh shoot…XD That'd be completely heartbreaking…We'll see?? Wait!! I mean…no worries…happy ending…yeah…

krugern: Yeah, Jiro's basic point of view right now is, he's getting this job…and only because Michiru's marrying him. So he wants to do something so that she'll be happy in her end too…just cuz he's happy w/ his job. He's a nice guy. I personally love that line too xD Jiro will step off the jealousy platform…only cuz he finally found out that Shina plays a little dirtier than he does haha. The next chapter will start out in Shina's perspective I believe…so we'll see more reaction from her then. Keiko…isn't done yet with trying to get Haruka's attention to her. We'll just have to see how affected she is over the blonde' sudden change in demeanor.

waiting4FWBupdate: Ahh is it over? Pfft…not that I cared haha. It's always bitin w/ you though! Regardless of how much I write…it's always bitin. It probably will be til the story's done…and then you're like what? That's it….? Bitin nanaman! XD I'll try to keep FwB up in a weekly thing…kinda showed me how hard it was this week so we'll just have to see if I can continue it.

FWBfanatic: Michiru's moreover annoyed than jealous of Keiko's presence, but I showed what her real fear is at the end of the chapter…and that's basically the separation between her and Haruka when she gets married and Haruka ends up being with someone else. I don't think she can deny the fact that they'll be best friends for life…but it just hurts of course…seeing the person she loves all up with someone else. Keiko...flirting w/ Haruka. Yep haha it'll happen. It'll happen more next chapter yay! I know how it's like to leave an unfinished fic out…leaving pple out to dry and all that. I don't plan on doing that w/ this story. The end is within reach and although it's not completely there yet, I have enough motivation this time around to know that I will finish it.

Haruka-Michiru: Killing you softly w/ cliffies. Killing you softly…w/ cliffies…tearing your whole life…with cliffies…killing you softly…ok wow…yay! The first reviewer that I sang to, congrats. XD H&M stubborn about their feelings? Nevah! It's not their fault they're more touchy feely than most "best friends" are. Well…I've updated, does it ease your anxiety much? Or did it just kind of…heighten it some more?

Elphie: Hope you enjoy chapter 14 as well as this one