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

18. Phone Conversations

Chapter 18: Phone Conversations

It was the first time in a long time that she felt this crappy. Ever since Jiro tried his hand at forcing himself on Michiru she sussed…and then realized that was only a week back…and sighed at how complicated her life had suddenly become.

What was so wrong about her? Why couldn't Michiru's parent's look pass the tomboy and just see a human who loves their daughter?

She was feeling as if it would be an endless battle with them. If she were to stick herself in the violinist's life long enough they would always clash…because she knew the smaller woman would always have to choose between them…and she shouldn't have to.

Maybe she should just run. She was tired all of the sudden…of all of this. She wasn't tired of Michiru…not even close. She was tired of the situations surrounding her. She had tried…to be human and understanding. She had tried patience and indifference. But she had never been pushed so far…been prodded for so long and even after all that…she couldn't fight back. She could only say what's on her mind…which had been good enough in the past, but it seems everyone in this wedding, even Jiro at the start, hated her…and would continue so until she disappeared.

It was depressing.

She never really told the violinist, but of course she wanted to be looked at highly by her parents. She genuinely liked the boisterous and outspoken father she met a month back while selling condominiums…and although Shina had been so cold…she somehow knew that she had seen them together in the sofa that night she stayed in her beach house…and if she didn't say anything then, it would mean that she had somehow created some sort of leniency at their close relationship.

But it seemed as if those people were gone. Shinji had become his business persona, she presumed. All work, no play, serious, and still outspoken, but his arrogance and apparently ignorance had soared as well. She still couldn't believe he spoke to his daughter the way he did…and made a promise with herself to somehow better Michiru's relationship with both of her parents before this entire thing was over. More than anything she couldn't stand seeing her stuck in this rift…this never ending conflict.

If she were to go, would it make everything better? Jiro would still be here…and if anything, he's the fiancé…he should be enough. Would the violinist be able to take all of them if she were to take her leave now? She's strong…she would be able to. Wouldn't she?

And then her crying form in the beach house became first and foremost in her mind. How her sapphire eyes twinkled helplessly as her tears marched down and her voice, perfected to sound as if she was okay, but had been farthest from the truth.

She couldn't leave…Not when she knew deep down that Michiru's not as strong as she looks. That although she prided herself in being independent, she still wanted the attention and love her parents had been giving her less of and more responsibility. She was her only friend in this entire ordeal. She was going to be the only one in her corner agreeing with her the important things to agree on and making her smile or, better yet, laugh when she could see the tired and melancholic look deeply hidden in her sapphire eyes.

She had to stay…and keep taking all of this in. She and the violinist were the absolute perfect martyrs. They are more than able to take crap from everyone and look as if nothing was wrong…as long as they had each other. She wondered how important she was in Michiru's life…and why she held her at such high esteem. Did she really do that much for her? It didn't look like she did…maybe she's just keeping her around for comedic relief…although she's not very funny and gets chastised more often than not with her brash behavior. She's loud, boisterous, outspoken, and an overall nuisance to this entire wedding ordeal if she were to be completely honest with herself…so…why was Michiru keeping her?

"Haruka?"

She hadn't even noticed the limo door had opened and Michiru was making her way inside, kneeling right beside her to the left.

"What's up?"

"Are you alright?"

She nodded before thinking, but the frown in her face remained nonetheless.

The smaller woman sighed and cupped her cheeks affectionately, her hand going farther up to her hair and brushing the sandy locks back. She sat next to her and turned, pulling her head to her shoulder and kissing the back of her head tenderly. Haruka finally smiled.

"I'm sorry for all the stress this is causing you," she said quietly as the blonde delved deeper in her embrace while shaking her head.

"Worry about yourself. I'm not the one getting married," she stated and laughed, although it sounded hollow to her ears.

Michiru's hug around her form tightened as another sigh came out of the worried aqua haired woman.

"Michiru…why do you keep me here?"

They had gotten out of the hug by now, but she was still playing with her hair, their eyes locked in a comfortable silence before Haruka chose to break it with what she was pondering earlier.

"Seems like a dumb question," the violinist replied with mirth.

"Well…I don't really do anything," the blonde said with a hint of exasperation. "I…have some ideas every now and then, but I don't do anything physically—

"You more than carry your weight in this wedding by being my emotional pillar of support Haruka…" she said softly and seriously. "If anyone in this planning stage knew what kind of a wreck I would be without your continued presence, they'd beg you to come back."

The tomboy laughed. "Alright…if you insist…"

"I do."

She brushed her hair roughly in disarray again as the door opened once more this time with the presence of Jiro.

"Are my parents going to be in the other limo?" Michiru asked as he settled himself on the seat across from theirs.

He nodded. "The person in charge with the wedding bands called in this morning and said everyone's order was ready. We're going to go ahead and grab those, make anymore tweaks if necessary, and then call it a day."

"Already?"

The red haired man nodded tiredly and leaned back in his seat. "A lot of crap's happening in the company. It'll be pretty much half days from here on out I think…at least until that's settled. Everyone needs your mother, father, as well as my presence there so…But it shouldn't hinder the wedding. It'll still be the same date. The invitations are good to go right? That's what you said earlier?"

Haruka nodded. "We visited my godparents yesterday and ojii-san gave it all to me before we left this morning."

"Nice," Jiro said and breathed a kind of sigh of relief. "One more thing to check off the list. Where is it? Shinji oji-san told me he and oba-san were going to be in charge of handing most of it out. Keep some for yourself to send to whomever you want though…if you really want to. Otherwise, everything will be pretty much business…company board of directors, my side of the family, stock holders that'll generally be affected…basically people you wouldn't know in our wedding, but have to attend it for the sake of seeing it through its completion."

Michiru sighed, but nodded nonetheless. "I just need two…"

The blonde took the bag out of its spot in the side, took two invitations for the violinist, handed it to her, and the rest to Jiro.

"Wow, they look amazing…" he said in awe, as he took one out, opened it, and investigated it further. "Is this…real gold?"

"Yup…and it took forever for ojii-san and obaa-san to make it, so if you lose it, I'm going to punch you in the nose the night before the wedding…your face should make for a nice fireplace portrait."

The red haired man laughed, already so used to her outspoken and curt manner. "Don't worry, I won't."

The car began to rumble forward, the three of them sitting back comfortably.

"What cake did you end up choosing?" Haruka asked.

"Five tiered cake…mocha on the inside, white frosting on the outside that has a very flowery look into it…Very colorful," Jiro explained.

"Do you like it?" she asked, this time turning to Michiru.

The aqua haired woman merely shrugged. "It's…a cake…It tasted good…and it looked like it would be good as well, so…"

The young CEO laughed loudly. "You sound so noncommittal."

"I think it's because I am…"

Jiro sighed and almost yelled in playful exasperation, "I'm still here you know…"

The two women laughed.

"Michiru, would you feel different about this entire wedding planning if, let's say, you married someone you love?" the onyx eyed man asked seriously.

They both looked at him questioningly as he only looked at them with a face full of wonder.

"I mean, I know you're very indifferent about it because, well…you don't love me. But…would it be different if it was someone you actually felt more of a friend for…less of an obligation, so to speak?"

"Of course…" Michiru said evenly. "First of all it wouldn't be rushed, second it wouldn't feel like a responsibility, and third…well…it makes a difference who I'm marrying in the other end…and the fact that I only love you as a friend would towards another is the last step that's making me stop from giving my full self and ability towards this entire wedding. If I were marrying…who I love…it would be completely different."

"More fun?"

The violinist nodded. "It would definitely be more fun…Less stressful as well, because it's a shared responsibility…"

"Share with me!" Jiro cried incredulously.

The smaller woman could only laugh. "Not in that sense Jiro…I appreciate you. I really do. You…are probably the best man in this world that can go through this with me…but we both know it's not nearly enough."

The red haired man sighed. "Yeah, I know."

"You sound like such a beaten dog…"

"Hey…watch it playboy!" he yelled playfully and pushed Haruka's knee roughly for good measure.

They all laughed as the limo rumbled onwards, the young CEO looking at Michiru's smiling features as she did so.

It would be different would it? She wondered briefly how different it would be…and then discarded the thought because there was no point wondering on things she would never know.

O--O

They got to the undisclosed jewelry store in no time and in a matter of minutes went in the closely guarded establishment as well, her parents as well as the man from yesterday huddled together around the rings for the wedding.

"It looks beautiful," Shina stated softly making thin aqua eyebrows go up in skepticism.

"I didn't realize Jiro-kun got an engagement ring too…it's so well thought of in comparison to the real wedding ring," Shinji said beside her.

The way they were speaking in excited and hushed tones kind of got her curious as well. She didn't realize the tall man had bought two rings…and if he did…why? It's not as if she couldn't just not accept the ring…and in the first place, he was already having trouble getting her the wedding ring itself…when did he get the time to look for an engagement ring as well? She glanced behind her at Jiro and Haruka who were seemingly absorbed in a conversation while making their way inside the building and went ahead, joining her parents. What waited for her there was simply…shocking.

She barely noticed the textured gold and emerald wide band she chose for her fiancé, nor the one next to it which was a lone solitaire diamond cluster ring on a similar gold band. What caught her eye and made her jaw unhinge slightly in surprise was the one to the very left. It sparkled as if gloatingly in the light, the one diamond floating in the middle outshined by the clusters of ambers and aquamarines lining the metal. Even more in the outskirts of the gemstones were even smaller diamonds, each one tiny in comparison, but colored in yellow or deep marine blue, all etched evenly and perfectly around a platinum band. It was simply breathtaking and looked very, very expensive.

"So I told them, you're either in or you're out and well you know…that's just how board of directors are…You gotta show them who they're messing with, else they'll play with you forever," Jiro's deep voice stated conversationally behind her.

A short, "Nh, I know how that is" was followed by the tomboy until they both stood right behind her, stopped talking, and looked at the rings parading the top of the glass counter.

"Your pick for the engagement ring is beautiful Jiro-kun," Shina praised and patted him on the head.

"I…have to agree here young man," the elder male Kaioh stated in surprise. "This outshines what I gave to my wife a long time back!"

Michiru looked at him seriously as he only gave a confused look back.

"I…well…I guess it looks…nice?"

"Nice? It's beautiful!" Shinji exclaimed, picked up the box and looked at it closer. "The pick for the gemstones is…amazing. The color reiteration is just…It's a wonderful ring Jiro-kun. You should be very proud of it."

A small cough came out of the blonde causing everyone to look at her questioningly. She gave Michiru a small look before stating quietly, "That's…mine…"

And nothing, but awkward silence completely engulfed the entire room.

Sapphire eyes widened as she looked back to the ring and then back to Haruka's sheepish look.

"Tenoh-san," the owner of the establishment called, beckoning her to him.

She watched the tomboy candidly pick the velvety box out of her father's grasp and moved towards the man, making everyone around her part in surprise. They were all in a hearing distance as the man squealed with glee when the box opened again to reveal the exclusively made ring.

"It wasn't made the way you truly wanted it to be," he started. "But! It's completely better this way, yes? Lone hanging diamond, a total of fourteen gemstones, seven amber and seven aquamarine AND small colored diamonds in the perimeter—marine blue and golden yellow. It's…probably the best ring we've made all year considering the obscene amount of rings we make…not to mention…a lot more expensive than we spoke about...but I'm sure it's nothing someone of your stature can't handle easily."

Why did she buy it?

Michiru wanted so badly to ask it out loud, but couldn't for the life of her.

"It's fine," the blonde said lowly and with a small distracted nod. "I'll take it anyway."

"Ahh, you have a refined sense of taste Tenoh-san. The woman who will receive this will be a very lucky one indeed." Turning his attention to her, Jiro, and her parents, he beckoned them to join as well, grabbing the two rings from the side and making them follow him a little more to the right side, farther from where Haruka currently stood while the blonde silently looked on, her eyes still locked on the ring she had asked to be made.

He started explaining about the rings they would be purchasing, but her attention wouldn't stop flittering to the blonde's. Why…did she purchase a ring? Was it for someone? She hadn't realized someone had wormed their way in the tomboy's heart…and if that was the case who…and when?

The frown in her face grew on, the people around her noticing her silence, but kept theirs for the sake of breaking it. So while the store owner marveled on at the picks for the rings she stood there and looked at Haruka the entire time, the taller woman seemingly lost in her own world with the opened box right in front of her.

How was she going to approach this subject? And more than anything, why was she mad?

I'm jealous…

Her jaw clamped up and what surprised her more was that she wasn't hurt by it…just kind of…peeved. When…did she find the time to find a girl?? She had been doing a good job keeping the young CEO to herself wasn't she??

Lost in her thoughts, she hadn't noticed the end of the long and drawn out explanation concerning the wedding bands, but did take note of the silence that followed, four pairs of eyes looking at her.

She shook her head inwardly to center herself, and smiled. "It sounds perfect. It…looks perfect."

"Wonderful!" the man gushed. "I'll ring it up for all of you. I'm pretty sure you're excited to wear it."

"I can hardly wait," she answered in an obvious hollow manner, sighed inwardly at the looks of reprimand coming from both of her parents and left the little huddle.

She would find out to whom that ring was for…if it killed her.

"Pretty…"

It seemed that had shaken the tall woman out of her reverie as she looked down at her with a somewhat dazed look.

"Yeah…" she answered softly and closed the box.

She decided to go for the joke tactic. It usually worked.

"Didn't realize someone as busy as you could found the time to check someone out," the violinist said casually. "Must be a pretty good catch—

"It's for no one."

The smile slid off of her face as she duly noted the sadness in the other woman's tone. Emeralds locked with hers devoid of the kind of shine she usually saw there as Haruka gave a small, albeit depressing smile.

"I saw it yesterday and thought…I want it…so I got it."

She gulped at the morose way the tomboy said this as the latter gave a halfhearted shrug.

"It'll probably sit in my room forever—

"Give it to a girl you'll like—

"It won't look right on any girl…"

Emeralds orbs darted away from hers and towards the store owner as he rang up her ring.

Michiru could only smile casually as the tomboy slid her card across the glass surface, finally feeling the familiar jilt in her heart that she had now grown accustomed to.

"You'll find someone."

Silence surrounded them until the blonde gave a tiny nod.

"Probably…but I won't give the same ring."

Haruka gave a final nod of thanks to the store owner and left the establishment without anyone trailing her, a white, small paper bag clung tightly in her hands.

O--O

"So that's what I should've given her…" Jiro exclaimed and eyed the little bag beside Haruka.

She sighed outwardly.

"Are you going to give it to her?"

"What kind of a question is that?"

"A serious one?"

"Sugiura…you are such a dumbass sometimes…"

Onyx eyes glared at her unimpressively as he leaned back in the limo seat and crossed his arms. "So what're you going to do with it if not give it to her?"

"Let it rot in that bag…"

"I didn't even realize you bought a ring…"

"I don't think I was thinking at the time…it happens…frequently."

"Buying rings?"

"Not thinking…"

Deep laughter echoed out of him as she leaned back in her seat as well. She turned to her right side, and looked at the bag momentarily before sliding her hand in and grabbing the box, feeling its velvety texture in her digits. She gathered it in front of her and opened it, releasing another sigh as she did so. A deep frown marred her face.

"You alright?"

"I shouldn't have bought it…What was I thinking?"

"Why not?" the red haired man asked incredulously. "It's a beautiful ring Haruka-san—

"It's a ring that I can never give to anyone," the tomboy exclaimed roughly and shut the lid of it close again. She was irritated…more at herself than anyone or anything. She gripped the box tightly, feeling the softness of it cave within her palm. "…If it's not for her…it's not for anyone. I can't give it to her…so why did I buy it? It's like…I'm reminding myself that I can never have her…I have such stupid masochistic tendencies."

"Never say never—

"Oh really?" she asked challengingly. "Of course this is coming from the one woman that I like's fiancé. Sorry Sugiura, but whatever you have to say to me right now is kind of lost to me. Do you want it? 'Cuz you have better uses for it than I do."

She thrust her enclosed fist at his direction, the box clamped tightly inside it, but Jiro could only give her a sad and sort of defeated look.

"Don't do that Haruka-san…you're making me think your belief in endlessly loving her is dissipating."

"What can I get from 'endlessly loving' her?" she asked sarcastically and threw the box back in the bag. "Nothing, but one sided pain and suffering. I'll always be there like she'll always be there for me…a friend. Nothing more than a damn friend. It's so…discouraging…keeping up. But I have to. For my own sanity if not for hers. Because—

"Being her friend is better than being nothing."

"Exactly."

She raised her palms up to her face and covered it tiredly, pressing on her eyes roughly to dispel the frustrations ebbing out of her.

Why in God's name did she decide to buy that forsaken ring? It's her sole reminder that she'll never be able to get what she truly wanted. Apparently the endless pains the pit of her stomach and her heart lurched out every five seconds they touched as mere friends wasn't enough…she just had to get an object to remind her…

"Jiro, they're asking you to go to their limo. We're done for the day."

She folded her hands in front of her as the red haired man as well as her attention flittered to the violinist who had just gone in the limo.

"Alright, I guess we'll see you guys again tomorrow," he shrugged and started making his way out. "What's the plan for tomorrow anyway?"

"Flowers…I believe."

He stuck his tongue out in distaste. "Great…so exciting…I can hardly wait…"

She merely smiled at him disapprovingly as he got out, said a casual bye to Satoshi and left, the door closing shortly thereafter.

Michiru sat across from her as she gave what probably was a tired look. She couldn't help it this time around…and merely left it there.

She could see the worried look begin to form on the other woman's face and sighed outwardly.

"I'm…going home…" she stated tiredly without looking at her and rubbed her eyes some more, her ministrations going further up to her head that had begun throbbing. "Will…"

She gulped, not really knowing what she was saying since her mind seemed to be in another place.

"Are you going to be okay…alone…today?"

She barely heard herself, but completely saw the violinist's worried look turn into melancholy…before it immediately changed to one of understanding indifference. Her chest felt heavy and she almost wanted to take her words back…but couldn't. Maybe deep down she didn't want to…she needed a day off…away from feeling anything when she's just felt every emotional turn pike at a hundred miles an hour within the last few she just spent. She was resolute on staying…but…

She felt like such a betrayer all of the sudden. She had been saying she wouldn't run this entire time and now, she felt more than obliged to…but the feeling of utter and complete helplessness and depression were taking over her body at a too rapid pace and if she were to stay…she would destroy all the progress she'd been making to look more human and less…like a "thing."

It was the ring…that god awful ring…

"Yes, of course I'll be fine."

There it was again…Michiru's perfectly sculpted voice—the one she knew she spoke in, in her times of faking indifference. She flipped her hair casually and put on a confident smile.

"I actually have some things to take care of at the studio so…maybe these half days won't be so bad."

Haruka's glance drifted to the floor as she only nodded. The most uncomfortable silence in the history of their relationship happened during that fifteen minute ride to her penthouse in the Royal.

O--O

"Michiru?"

"Haruka! What's going on? Is something wrong?"

"No…no nothing. I…I was just actually calling to ask if…it's okay to skip out for a bit…I just found out my mother began a deal without consulting me and she needs to go out of town for a bit to settle some last minute things. I…need to stay at the company to make sure everything's alright…Should be a week…two max."

"…I see…"

"I mean…you don't really need me for…flowers…and all that anyway right? It's just—

"No, I completely understand. Sorry Haruka, even after knowing how busy you are I…But yes, you should take care of your company…It should be manageable. My parents are going to make sure everything's scheduled and if anything…Jiro's there…so…it'll be fine."

"…Alright…Are you sure?"

"I insist! You…just take care of yourself though okay? Don't stress yourself out too much. Eat well…and—

"Shouldn't you be saying this about yourself?"

The barest hint of a chuckle before, "Nh…I'll be sure to take care of myself so don't worry. I'll…talk to you later…"

"Yeah…sorry if I interrupted anything by the way. I really needed to let you know as soon as I knew so there wouldn't be any schedule conflicts…and that kind of stuff. But I'll definitely come back…so…wait for me."

"Always."

"…Talk to you later."

"See you soon Haruka."

O--O--O--O--O

"Hey."

"How's it going?"

"Good…just got done with an annoyingly long, yet important, or so they say, meeting. How was…flower picking?"

Michiru had to laugh at how she said that…so alike the way Jiro had been acting the entire day.

"It was good actually. We picked…lilies and roses."

"Scentiful."

"Nh, we bought about…a million yen worth…It should be enough—

"Yeah if you plan to fill the entire lake around your grandfather's house…"

It was nice listening to her. After a whole day where she had to listen to not only her parents talk, but also Keiko…it had been a trying day…very…trying.

She couldn't help, but laugh again.

"Rai was there?"

"Yes, she was."

"Sorry for not being able to be with you—

"No Haruka…it's fine. I completely understand, but…I don't know. Maybe my father did speak with her…she didn't say much other than things that pertained to the wedding."

"Probably did it to make herself look better," the blonde grunted.

"Yeah, she was very restrained. I could tell there were a lot of things below the surface, but I…barely paid her any attention anyway so we just kind of left it to hang."

"Do you need me?"

Her smile lowered in melancholy. "I always need you Haruka…Actually…I need you right now. Dinner…haven't seen you all day. Or are you too busy to eat?"

"Course not," the tomboy scoffed. "But…I have another meeting…and…well…you want to come by again? Like last week?"

"Sounds good. What would you like?"

"No, just come by. I should have something here."

"That doesn't sound very promising."

"It'll be fine. Bring your lovely self. I missed you too you know…"

O--O

"Hungry?"

It seemed like a dumb question, seeing as she was the one who invited the blonde for dinner.

"Yes?"

"Good. You…up for conversing too?"

She didn't really know where this was going, but nodded nonetheless. "I'm pretty sure we can talk and eat at the same time."

Haruka smirked up at her and began pushing her back to the elevator she just got out of. She gave her a questioning look, but the tomboy merely held her from behind, and for her, it was enough. She pressed a button one floor lower from the one they were currently on and a couple seconds later the door opened to what looked like the conference area of the floor.

"Haruka…what're we doing?"

The tomboy only smiled, led her wordlessly by the shoulders to the rightmost door of the first room they walked upon and opened it, a number of men looking up at them questioningly as they entered.

"Where's my pizza?" the young CEO asked, pulled the head chair, beckoned Michiru to sit on it and after she sat down, albeit hesitantly, she pulled one of the more generic ones similar to the ones the board were sitting on and sat down, positioning herself close to the violinist.

"It should be up within the next ten minutes," one of the men stated, looking at her weirdly before flittering back to Haruka's easygoing figure.

"So? Let's start. I don't know what everyone's waiting for."

An uncomfortable silence settled over everyone before a thinner man to Michiru's left stood up and began explaining some things pretty much foreign to her. It took her about two minutes in that room to really get what's going on, the mischievous glint in Haruka's eyes finally apparent as the smirk flittered up in her features as well.

"Not appreciated Haruka," she whispered to her causing her to chuckle in amusement and making the man in front of her stop briefly to look at her questioningly.

Haruka looked back at him evenly, frowning as he coughed out loud and asked rather forcibly, "Any reason why you brought some…girl in here Tenoh-san?"

"Shizu!" one of the men called in disbelief, hissing his name loudly.

"What? Are we this much of a joke to her now that she's more than able to bring one of her many girlfriends in a meeting no less?!" he demanded and smacked the folder on the table.

"Idiot," another man seethed. "That's…Kaioh Shinji's daughter!"

His normally slit eyes widened in surprise, his Adam's apple bobbing in obvious nervousness.

"I deeply, deeply apologize—

"Kaioh-san was interested in buying a condominium from us due to her father's recent purchase," Haruka shrugged and lied so very easily while eyeing the men before her. "She asked to come see me today, I had a meeting, she wanted to join and see how it's like since she doesn't experience things like this often, and…now you've completely insulted her, dishonored the company, and pretty much landed yourself in a deep hole. Very good job Shizu-san…your promotion is looking bleaker and bleaker by the day."

She gave an unimpressed and a completely sarcastic laugh as the door opened and a bunch of pizza boxes were discreetly left on the table nearest the door, the delivery man leaving with Yuki shortly and the smell of the pizza wafting around the tense filled room.

Michiru gave an inward sigh and a look at the blonde that screamed displeased, but outwardly smiled at the low and repeatedly bowing man.

"I understand…Shizu-san," she stated. "It is pretty unorthodox to actually come to a meeting so I deeply apologize as well." She eyed the tomboy and smiled sweetly. "It won't happen again."

She only received a rather cute open toothed smile as the tomboy got up, grabbed the pizza boxes, paper plates, and napkins on top of it on the lone table near the doorway, and pushed everything to the middle of the table, the board members getting up simultaneously and grabbing what would be dinner.

She found that they really were busy—she doubted all the higher ups of Tenoh Corporation would be eating pizza for dinner voluntarily if for no other reason than that, and as she sat there quietly, munching on her slice, she got a first hand look at how…good…Haruka was at her job.

What amazed her most was that, she wasn't any different. When she listened, there was always disinterested indifference in her face, but when she spoke, it was quite obvious she had been listening, and more than that thinking beyond the realm of the problem or situation. She was also…rude…to say the least. She cut people off when she felt like it and when someone would battle her about a problem, it would only be a matter of time until she would win.

She could see how conflicts came easily. They didn't bend to her will and neither would she to theirs…although in the end it was obvious who was right. Haruka was boisterous, because she was right. Most of the board members were boisterous because they were probably tired of being wrong. It was a great insight…to what she did. And when it finally stopped in a matter of an hour and a half, she was given another apologetic bow before the board members began making their way out.

"Was that as fun for you as it was for me?" the tomboy asked sarcastically, earning her a small slap in the arm which she just laughed at.

"Uncalled for. I was expecting a nice dinner with you…"

"It was a nice dinner! We got to finish a lot of the things my mother needed to and you got to see first hand how I was like in my environment. I always come to see you in your concerts and I thought, 'Hey, Michiru always invites you to see her in her environment. Why can't you do the same?'"

She could only laugh while shaking her head exasperatedly. They got up and made their way to the elevator.

"It was an overall okay day though? Did your parents look better since I wasn't around?" she asked and punched her office floor as they got inside.

"Strangely enough they were very quiet…almost…maybe disappointed…that you weren't there."

"Hmm," she sounded. "Well…tell them I'll be back…so they should rejoice it while I'm gone."

"When?"

She couldn't help the helplessness in her voice and received an apologetic look from the blonde.

"My mother won't be back 'til Friday so…four days at least? That's if everything goes to plan though…and if it won't, well I guess it'll be longer."

"I see…"

"But if you need me there, just call…and I'll cancel whatever it is I have to do for the day and—

"No…it's no problem," the violinist stated and shook her head even though her insides told her that was too long and that…it really was a problem.

"You…should really learn how to lean on Jiro-kun."

It was said so suddenly that her insides kind of froze for a second until pain so indescribable entered her body from just hearing that one sentence. The fact that it came from Haruka made it all the more unbelievable to her ears.

Her jaw tightened involuntarily as the blonde continued on, "Because well…he's your fiancé. He's going to be your husband and he'll be there for…ever…if that's how long both of you can stand it. But it has to start from somewhere so…why not now?"

"Where's this coming from all of the sudden?" She found that her voice was still fully hidden in mirth and thanked all the years she spent on putting up a tough wall as well as an easily enough to fit in mask.

The young CEO shrugged. "I don't know…I've just been spending enough time with you and Jiro-kun to know that you're close enough as friends to merit being more than it so why is it so hard to take the next step?"

"I don't love him—

"I know you don't. I'm not asking or forcing you to. But…we've all been stuck in this same monotony that you guys are friends and can't be anything more, yet you're getting married. I know Jiro-kun's more than able to provide you more, it's just a matter of…you opening up to him."

She never expected for Haruka of all people to be pushing this on her. Her parents? Yes. Jiro? Not so much anymore. Haruka? Never…until now.

As they entered her office, the blonde turned to her and with a worried look on her face grasped the sides of her shoulders, grabbing her undivided attention.

"I love the fact that you can lean on me," she said softly, their eyes locking effectively. "And I'm not saying that you should stop…I'd be pretty said if you did. But…your friend should never go before your husband…regardless of how one-sided the marriage is. Give him a chance…we both know he's not as bad of a guy as I thought he once was."

She didn't know what to say so she merely nodded, afraid that if she were to speak, her perfectly toned voice would crack to reveal all that she was feeling inside.

O--O

She had a few operations she needed to pull and some if not all were already in progress. One: Operation 'Make Sugiura the Perfect Husband' and two: Operation "Get Over Her.'

This decision came to her shortly after buying the ring…and what fueled it to continuation were the conflicts she had with the many of the people around Michiru, namely her parents. She was tired of all the fighting…She was tired of the violinist looking morose and torn every single time she and her parents decided to go at it so…maybe it was due time to start planning her leave.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized that there wasn't a clear reason to stay around Michiru anymore. It's not to say her feelings dissipated—on the contrary it had gotten to be so much more during these past couple of weeks that her life had begun centering itself around the aqua haired woman…which was fine. But she can't help, but think that she was always the reason the smaller woman held herself back on a lot of things. This entire wedding would've probably gone off without a hitch already if she weren't around making complications everyday!

She was making her leave not because she wanted to, but because she had to. If she thought about it, she really was a bad influence to the violinist. A lot of the brash things she's done recently had been attributed to her continued presence and her parents definitely felt and saw it, and called her rightly out for it as well.

So…the only thing she can do now is to fix everything that she broke before pulling herself away slowly, but surely.

Operation one was easy enough, she figured; all she had to do was play the matchmaker. She would try to put them in situations in which Michiru would need a lending hand, and lo and behold, Jiro would be there as that support she needed. If she did this enough, the violinist would see that he would make an okay husband, have more faith in their soon-to-be marriage, and…stop looking for her for support because that would be Jiro's job…and she would no longer be needed. She could cross herself off from that aspect of the picture.

Operation Two was…a little harder, although the fact that her mother made a trip abroad made the first phase of it a tad easier for her. She kind of lied when she stated to the smaller woman that the company needed her; her and her mother's missed presence for a week would not have mattered. But she needed to get away and it was the perfect excuse given that it wasn't fully a lie, but it wasn't the truth either.

She sighed.

She had a couple of days to regroup and then she would rejoin the pack.

Her head made a dull thud as she leaned it against the cool glass surface. To make things a little easier, she made a 'Not To Do' list yesterday concerning operation two. It was probably the hardest operation thereby the most sought over, but…it would be done. She'll have to make to happen, no ifs, when's, or buts.

One: No more hugs…although she couldn't help herself today and kind of gave one from behind in their short elevator ride. She'll try better next time…

Two: No more emotional outbursts regarding her feelings about the violinist to her parents, Jiro, or anyone. She would act as if she didn't care because…that's what the operation's main goal was to look like.

Three: If they were to be in the same sleeping quarters again, she will not share a bed, sofa, whatever. She'll have to learn to know how to be utterly and completely alone and even if her mind, body, and soul were to tell her to just yield…she would not.

Four: No more eating out alone together until her feelings were a little less obvious and more under control or…simply forgotten. She doubted she would ever 'simply' forget.

Five: No tickling.

She sighed in melancholy, lifted her head from the now warm glass wall and thudded herself on it again. Her heart felt heavy again, but that was nothing new. Funny how when it came to matters of the heart, she could never feel used to being hurt…but she wished she could.

Six: Be more quiet than boisterous and more helpful than brash.

Eight: Little to no touches.

She picked herself up from the windowsill and walked to her room slowly, her mind swimming with thoughts and her body on auto mode. She barely registered when her body hit the bed nor as she caved within its blankets. She just felt kind of hollow for a bit until her head turned to the nightstand and there on top of her lamp desk was the closed box of the ring she bought. Her eyes locked with it and almost immediately her mind stopped swimming, her brain ceased functioning, her body lay motionlessly still, and she could only feel with her heart and soul.

Her vision was cloudy for a second, getting blurrier and blurrier by the minute, until warm tears cascaded out of the corner of both of her eyes and traveled down to the pillow. She neither stopped the flow of tears nor wiped it away. Her eyes merely stayed locked on to the box that would stay closed, hidden, and be an ornamental decoration forever. She didn't utter a single sound and only the occasional hitching of her breath was the sole indicator that she still wasn't asleep.

She needed to get over her. She needed to stop being her admirer and just be a friend. All Michiru needs is a friend…nothing more.

She laughed for a second before it turned into an anguished cry, her fist gripping her pillow until she pulled it far enough to hear the loud ripping sounds it made beneath her palm.

Who was she kidding? Operation two was impossible…How can she get over her? How can you get over someone you've literally revolved your entire life around? It's a joke to even consider it…but since it can't be done, at least she had to act a little more like a friend and less than an admirer. Her not to do list would be applied first and foremost if only for that reason. She needed to stop making her presence known so much…Michiru always knew what was happening to her only because she almost always wore her heart out on her sleeve. Her mask had begun sucking…She needed to stop acting like the center of attention and begin playing the part of the wallflower…if only to cushion her leave when that time finally comes.

She wouldn't want someone like me anyway. Introduce her to the right people…the right girls…and she would see how bad of a "friend" I am. She would questions why she even puts up with me and just…dump me…That would be nice…It would be so nice…because it would make things so easy…

Operation Three: Find Michiru friends that are suitable for a woman of her stature.

Operation Four: Try to blend in the background long enough so that when there were enough people around her, she could just leave without ever being missed.

O--O

It was the second day without Haruka's presence and Shinji wondered if they might've pushed her too far. What was even more worrying was his daughter's demeanor. He noted that she was sad yesterday, but today…her entire appearance spoke of utter depression. She looked even more tired than usual, the lovely spark in her sapphire eyes almost nonexistent.

"Shinji…"

He noted the plea in his wife's voice and nodded in understanding, walked towards Michiru and draped his arm casually over her shoulders. She looked up at him in bewilderment for a second, before smiling, the action not even close to reaching her eyes, and looked back in front of her at Jiro who was busy talking to the owner of the restaurant that would cater for the wedding.

"Everything alright dear?" he asked softly and rubbed the sides of her arms in hopes of seeing her feel better.

She merely nodded, the small hint of a frown still imminent in her beautiful features.

"Surprised…Tenoh-san's not here again," he stated casually and looked at her from the corner of his eyes to gauge her reaction.

She gulped, her eyes focused only on what's ahead of her and replied, "She won't be coming back for a while. Yoshiko-san went abroad to take care of some business matters and she has to tend to her company."

"Oh I see," he said softy and stroked his goatee thoughtlessly. "Guess everyone's got their own thing going on at their companies right now. Economical stability is, of course, always first and foremost."

"Of course."

He blinked at how hollowly she answered him and then realized the double meaning of the sentence he just uttered. He wanted to plant his palm on his forehead for a second in exasperation of himself…he was definitely not making her feel better.

"She told me last night to learn how to lean on Jiro…so I can be the perfect wife when we get married."

Older sapphire eyes widened in surprise at her too quiet words. He was definitely not expecting that…

"But…is it so bad to want to lean on her?"

He couldn't answer such a simple and complex question…and when silence surrounded them, Michiru must've noticed his hesitancy as well because she looked up at him after a while, smiled that same cheerless smile, and nodded resolutely.

"Of course it is…If everyone's so against it, there must be something wrong with it."

It felt as if the wind was just knocked out of him, and as his daughter shrugged his arm out of her shoulder to walk over to Jiro, he couldn't say anything as a rebuttal.

He couldn't say that there was nothing wrong with it…not if it made her happy.

O--O

"Yes?"

"Kaioh-san?"

Shinji looked at his phone from his peripherals in askance for a second, wondering who the familiar, yet unfamiliar voice is from the other line.

"This is he."

"It's…Tenoh Haruka."

Sapphires widened as he sat straight and upright on his chair in attention. "Tenoh-san…what a surprise," he greeted stoically.

"I understand that you're busy, but I was wondering if we could meet for dinner," Haruka requested quietly. "I…just want to ask, confirm, and acknowledge some few things with you."

"I…see…"

"It's nothing bad…On the contrary; it'll probably be good…"

"Where…would you like to meet?"

"It requires some amount of privacy, so…can we meet up at my beach house? I've prepared dinner already. Your wife's driver should know where it is if you can make the correct calls to verify the address or location—

"It shouldn't be a problem. I'll be there within twenty minutes."

"If you'd like, you can bring her too…Kaioh-san would probably want to know about what we'll be talking about. I'll provide dinner…so don't worry about that."

"Alright…I'll ask her about it and if she decides to come she'll be with me. Otherwise, it'll just be us two."

"Sounds good. Thanks for the consideration Kaioh-san. I'll see you in a bit."

O--O

"What do you think it'll be about?"

She couldn't help, but feel it'll be something foreboding…like…Haruka finally confessing her eternal love for her daughter…She gulped at the thought and looked at Shinji steadily.

"I'm not sure," he only stated and stroked his goatee, a thoughtful look upon his handsome face. "But…I doubt she'd call us if it wasn't important…"

"Do you think she's just warning us about wanting to end the wedding?"

"Like, 'I'm going to tell Michiru I love her and I'm just trying to tell you guys before I do it' type of thing?"

Shina nodded. "That seems like the most plausible case…"

Shinji bit his bottom lip making his frown appear to double in weight. "Or maybe she's just trying to put up a white flag?"

"She's not the type to put up a white flag…"

"That's true…"

Their attentions shifted as concrete made way to sand and the looming figure of the warm beach house stood only a couple more minutes ahead.

"No point in wondering I guess…Might as well see what's on her mind."

"What if it's something we won't like?"

He looked at her as she asked the question that's blaring in both their minds.

"We'll get by with what we can…"

Her frown deepened as the car came to a stop, the chauffeur making his way out of the driver's side and opening their door for them. As she got out, the elder female Kaioh noticed Haruka's solitary figure standing by the door, a rather morose and serious look etched on her face and the worried feeling settling itself in her stomach rose even higher. She and her husband walked side by side until they were only several feet away.

The tomboy's face maintained the frown as she gave them a smile. "Welcome…and thank you for coming at such late and sudden notice," she greeted. She casually looked behind her before motioning them to come in. "I have dinner prepared already. I hope it's both to your liking."

She and Shinji nodded at once before going inside the warm abode, the familiar dinner table already set with food and plates. She was impressed with the food the young CEO had cooked for them for breakfast some days back, but she was even more so for the meal she had prepared for them tonight. Their menu consisted of skewered yakitori, oden, and chawanmushi—very fit for the cold weather they had been experiencing recently.

"Looks appetizing Tenoh-san," Shinji said casually and took a seat to the right of the head chair, leaning forward to better look and smell the dishes before him. "Shina tells me that you cook."

"Yes I do," she answered quietly as Shina sat down on the empty chair to her left facing her husband.

She looked away from the food a second to look at Haruka's face, and shocked herself at how immediately worried she grew upon seeing the defeated look there. Just one look at her told her already that this wasn't the conversation she was dreading…it was probably even worse.

"We should eat before the food gets cold," the tomboy said, smiled and raised her chopsticks in front of her in greeting.

They ate in relative silence for several minutes, and she smiled at the mesmerized look upon her husband's face at how good the food tasted. His face definitely yelled it even though he had yet to compliment her on how well the entire thing was, but she wouldn't hold back seeing as it was one of the things she kind of admired of the young blonde.

"The food is very good, Tenoh-san."

Her compliment seemed lost though and only now had she noticed that the blonde had barely touched her food. She merely smiled up at her, that same cheerless smile that she and Michiru had seemingly perfected and bowed in thanks. She could see that Shinji had noticed her distracted actions as well, but didn't say a thing about it, only giving her a concern look as dinner grew silently on.

When they finally finished, Haruka excused herself from the table, her plate devoid of food except for a piece of tofu from the oden and a barely eaten yakitori. They followed her with their eyes as she made her way to her kitchen, pulled a hot kettle from the stove and a tray with ajirogi matcha, the supplies they would need to mix the tea together, as well as three tea bowls.

She wordlessly set the bowls before them, scooped some of the dried, light green matcha evenly in each of their bowls, poured hot water in Shinji's first, whisked and stopped when it foamed, doing the same deliberate and small actions to Shina's before making one for herself fully.

"Trying to score points?"

She wished Shinji wouldn't play so hard…the coldness in his voice so obvious and apparent that she knew it somehow affected the blonde even though there was no indication whatsoever that it did.

"I doubt I can ever do anything to win your graces Kaioh-san," Haruka said quietly, no trace of sarcasm or wit in her soft voice. "So trying to score points seems kind of dumb. You're both guests at my house and I'm the host…that's all."

The elder male Kaioh blinked a little as his sapphire eyes trailed down to the foamed tea bowl in his hands and up at her eyes that silently plead him to tone it down…at least until after they knew what she wanted to speak with them about.

The blonde sat back down at her spot, took a small sip of her still piping hot tea and looked at them with serious melancholy before starting.

"It's very obvious…to all parties in this room…that we don't see a lot if anything eye to eye," she said softly, her gaze falling to her reflection on the tea bowl and the sadness reverberating out of her emerald eyes. "There are many things we disagree on: different cultural views, personality traits, opinions in general…and although we can't say some of all the things we feel, it's always there bubbling in the surface…and it's only a matter of time until it appears and ruins…all the progress we've been making to act more civilly towards one another."

She cupped the tea bowl in her hands and raised it up to her lips, taking another careful sip of it. Shina and Shinji's merely stayed in front of them, their eyes and attention focused only on the speaking blonde.

"There have been times that I've lashed back…to both of you…and I sincerely apologize for all that I've said," the tomboy continued. "I've called both of you a hypocrite…called you out on many things…and I can see why you both can see me as a bad person. I can…agree with you that I probably am. But in the end, everything we do and say…it all boils down to Michiru."

She looked up at them now, wet her suddenly dry lips, and frowned even deeper. She breathed deeply, as if to calm herself. "She's our only connection. She's…the reason why I called both of you here tonight; she's the reason why you know me as more than a passing face. And…if there's one thing we all can openly agree on…it's that her happiness is paramount. I'm here for her because she needs a friend. You're here for her because as her parents, you know what's good for her…and what's not.

"I know Michiru enough to know that she loves you both with conviction. She…has done so many things…and also avoided so many things, just to be in your good graces. She loves you as a daughter could only love her parents…and I know I've probably been sounding like a broken record…and that I've said this before, but…I wish you two would speak with her. With that said, I know exactly what you two want for her. I know that you're doing everything for her best interest and although she can't see what you're trying to show her now…she will in due time…and she'll probably thank you when she finally sees it.

"I realize that…I'm an obstacle to this plan. She and I are close now only because…we were so much closer before, but with the way things are now, she'll always have to choose between us…unless one of us stands down…and I hate to see how she would look like if you two were to be ones to yield."

She chuckled lowly, the action making sapphire and grey eyes widen as the sound of complete agony came out of her. It was a somewhat dry laugh…filled with pain and defeat…a laugh Shina thought she would never see from Haruka.

"Sugiura…is the perfect man for her. He…has all the qualities that she looks for…and if he were to become just a little bit less hesitant…and stronger, he would be her perfect pillar of support. He would be the perfect husband…and I can safely say that…that is one of the other things that we all can agree on in this room."

She sounds as if she's giving up…

"I want Michiru to be happy. I want…her marriage to be successful; I want her relationship with both of you to become better. I want her to be surrounded by people that can give her what she wants in life…and with that said, I would like it if you both helped me in achieving this. She sees me as a friend…so let's find her another one…someone she can talk to…confide in…someone that…won't fall in love with her…so this cycle doesn't restart.

"I'll teach Jiro-kun…everything that he needs to know to make her happy…so she can have the perfect husband. We'll surround her with the right people—ones that are more than able to get along with the two of you and vice versa so she can have the perfect friends. Be there for her…and she'll have the perfect parents. In due time…with everything that she'll have, she'll be too busy to even look at me…and I'll simply disappear in the crowd until she won't miss me…so she'll have the perfect life."

She smiled as tears accumulated around her eyes and fell sharply across her face. "It's foolproof. I just need a bit of help so it'll be faster."

Her jaw slackened in shock at the request from the tomboy and the guilt that had been eating her up since this entire thing flew, and lodged itself into an uncomfortable lump in her throat. Shinji also looked at the blonde with disbelief clearly written on his face.

"B…but you…I thought you love her…" he asked and she wished he sounded softer and less condescending because the pained expression the young CEO sported was already too much for her to handle.

"Of course I do," Haruka stated and smiled genuinely, looking away as she did so and wiped her growing tears furtively. "But…there are some things you just have to let go…and I'm the only obstacle stopping her from having a completely perfect and happy life so I should be the one to back off. There's nothing in this world that'll make me happier more than seeing her happiness. And since that happiness doesn't require me in it, why should I keep forcing myself in her life…when it's so obvious I'm the one causing the despair and conflicts among people she doesn't want to fight with?"

Shina was utterly and completely speechless.

"I won't leave until I'm no longer needed…so don't worry about me pulling a Shigeru Toshiro…I would never hurt Michiru that way. I'll be there until my presence is forgotten…so she won't have to choose between you two and me…because as I said before, I would never want her to have to pick between a mere friend and her parents. So…if you can help me…get rid of me…which I seriously thought the two of you would jump for joy at the first opportunity to do, I would be more than happy to receive your help…If not because you could care less, which I understand as well, I can do it myself. I just wanted to let the two of you know where I'm coming from, so we can act just a little bit more civilly in front of Michiru. I hate seeing her so torn whenever we're yelling and being overall insensitive jerks towards one another. She's always the one caught in the crossfire…and we shouldn't that to her."

Quietness befell the room, Shinji's eyes looking every bit as confused as she was and it remained that way until Haruka stood up, gathering both of their attention.

"It's getting a little late and I know we all have a busy day tomorrow," she stated quietly and released a bit of a sigh. "Go ahead and leave everything on the table—I'll clean up. Other than that, thank you for spending dinner with me…and I hope to see both of you soon. I'm a little tired so I'm heading upstairs to lay for a bit. Can you both see yourself out?"

Her mind was still in jumbles so a brief nod of the head was even then, out of the question. When the blonde didn't receive any words or actions from the two, she merely bowed and started her way across the living room, towards the staircases leading to the upper floor.

"Tenoh-san!"

She turned around in askance at Shina, Shinji looking at her in bewilderment too. And she tried to take out a few words…a brief sentence of consolation or…a bit of thanks…something! But…she was at a loss for anything to say. So she bit her bottom lip, and shook her head, looking away and gulping the enormous lump in her throat unsuccessfully instead.

Haruka gave a rather tired and melancholic smile at her before turning back around and heading upstairs. Before that night Shina had never known how it felt like to win and lose at the same time…She wished she had stayed blissfully unaware.

AN: I sincerely apologize for the last chappy's AN or lack thereof. I was sooo tired haha. So…what does my household getting a PS3, a Wii, and new WoW content patch all in a matter of a couple days equal?? Not a lot of writing time…haha. Strangely enough, even though there was new WoW content (which is awesome) and new consoles to experiment with (I'm sore from the damn Wii again…), I've still wanted to write so…ngeh…I guess it's just me wanting to finish this so I can play more games XD So it's taken a turn for the worse…my story anyway. Haruka's giving up…throwing the proverbial white flag/towel that even I didn't think she would throw, but hey, my alter ego's apparently writing this story so that's what happened. There was a lot of angst before, there will be more coming…just so you know. Other than that, there's really no new content needed to say anything for so off to one sided convos:

petiyaka: Yep Misa is direct, to a fault likely, but it's one of the family's more endearing traits. What's her breaking point? The ring was her breaking point…haha. With how Haurka's mind is like right now, do you really, really think a kiss is coming soon? Definitely not.

t.: Glad you liked the HM-ness from last chappy because Haruka's gonna stop giving it to you on a silver platter. I always make readers think that there's going to be a confession soon, although my AN says there won't be any enough times. Believe the AN's more haha. Keiko coming back won't be much of a hindrance anymore…she'll kind of be in the background actually. OoooOOo new OC next chappy…at least that's what my mind's telling me…-.- haven't written anything yet. So look forward to that next time too.

firetiger: hahahahahah crass…I completely agree. There's a point when I'm writing…where there's a word that I just can't stop writing… "crass" was these few chapters' word apparently, and yeah, I've noticed it…it'd be weird if I didn't since I'm the author. You're AN fueled me to stop it though so I hope the effort was appreciated. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the rest.

Akira-kun: Haha…yeah…Michiru is cute isn't she? XD Something fishy?? NEVAH! Haha…well yes, I do have something planned, but because everything that they're doing is related to Kaioh-Miroku it's just a matter of the situation being better or worse regarding the wedding plans…and I won't say which one. :D FwB withdrawals…hahahah…I…apologize. I'm pretty caught up in writing it right now though cuz if new WoW content won't even make me stop writing, I doubt anything except maybe studying for exams coming up will. We'll see how busy I'll be. As for Keiko, she will and won't be there…I'm still contemplating on what to do with her because she seems unimportant what with Haruka's new feelings and her new "mission."

Mantaray: Yay more dramatic chapters. Shinji may have acted too well xD haha you know, a lot of things happen in my mind regarding the ending for this story. I can safely say that I've thought up so many open ended and close ended endings already and I think I have the right one, but if I don't well my mind will cook up a better one for the story regarding where it's going. Haha…for some reason, this is feeling more and more like a job recently (not meant to be a bad thing), but I personally schedule it so that I have the time to write just so I'll make it to the updates. We'll see how next week treats me regarding this matter.

shin: More torture yay!! Michiru's parents are probably kicking themselves for pushing her off the edge now cuz well…their plans always seem to have a way of backfiring. Nope, I live in Seattle…I have insomniac tendencies…just mere tendencies tyvm…XD (still in denial leave me alone) so yeah, I stay up til around…four, read the entire chapter a final time for editing (I don't just leave it for editing til this time btw, I read it like…probably 5-10 times within the week to edit, change, add and this is like…the one final editing job before it goes to ffn XD) write the AN's and feedbacks…and go to sleep…That's what my Friday nights/Saturday mornings look like haha. I usually don't get sleep until 6…it's very painful sometimes…XD No, they won't kiss just at the end. That's all I'm saying.

Black Caballiere: Modesty is my only cushion at times…I'm a pessimist so when something goes wrong I didn't send myself all the way up in cloud nine which is just dandy. I'd rather think no one likes this story than everyone liking it haha…just cuz that's who I am. Hehe, yeah they probably already see what's so good about Haruka, especially after the end of this chappy since she's more than willing to sacrifice herself for Michiru's wellbeing, but we'll see how they take it as it gets further.

AlterEgoErin: No confessions! XD trust me when I say it, not them. Haha my cousins…always go to the bathrooms together (at my home -.-) whenever/during/after we watch scary movies. They are so afraid of anything even remotely close to black that they won't chance it, so they'd rather take more people with them than none at all.

Kilohe: It's easy to leave stuff like that…:) You would strangle me eh? Haha…well it's a good thing you only know a little bit about me and…not everything else…Plus being the author has its perks…I should stop writing and updating on time…it's making you guys rabid…Yeah that line made that chapter imo. Egging my house…needs knowledge to know where my house is :P And if you do…I'll put this on hiatus…and see where we go from there haha.

Lily Topaz: Okie dokie haha. These little one sided convos are funny if only for this reason. Someone says a one liner and I'm like…hmm…how do I answer this without sounding so short and tact? Well…this is how apparently.

Vanessa Riverton: haha Yuu was just like work, work, work…HOLY CRAP THE BRIDE AND HARUKA-CHAN HAD AN AFFAIR?? Yeah, H&M have gotten to be pretty mature about how they once were. Glad you like the frequent updates and til next time as well.

Waitin4FWBupdate: Deep sea diving…XDDDD still can't get over it. Zomg…when did this get so rated M?? And do our gf's know about these kinds of talks?? Don't let them know!! -.- When are they giving in? ok…Haruka's giving in just for you…or…giving up anyway…yay…Round two…seems bleak right now. We'll just see how Keiko acts and if she needs a good whipping, we'll give it to her (she'd prolly enjoy it too) zomg…

Nekomi Kaze: You know…whenever I read your name…I start singing Yokaze by Aiba from Arashi…XD I don't know why…maybe the amount of syllables fit the song with your name, but let's get on shall we? Haruka needs to get a grip with her mind? This is what happens when she gets a grip…haha she starts to cave in. Haha…well Keiko will almost seem nonexistent when she reappears in word content, but we'll see how that goes. As of now, she's no longer number one priority for angst…Haruka's feelings do well enough by herself. Yeah, Shinji's plan is to be a real jerk and you know Michiru's been handling it pretty nicely, but I think Haruka's decision is just a matter of finally giving in to what she wants for Michiru's happiness which is what's more important. Yeah, parents are pretty easy to write for me, seeing as there's only a few types…the hella strict, the lenient, and the ones in the middle. The Kaiohs are pretty much the first and trying to get to the middle, but the transition's hard without their plan blowing off to smithereens seeing as they've been pretty strict this entire time. Thanks for waiting oh so patiently and I hope you enjoyed the chapter as well.

Swinging Cloud: Good luck on tech week XD although I'm not really sure what it is…but good luck nonetheless. You'll miss all those "tantalizing (haha you so know you're an author when you use words like that in everyday jargon) moments now. I won't even dangle any anymore…they'll just…simply disappear. Ahh…jerk…another wonderful comment. /blush. You're too much sometimes…thanks for always boosting my ego though…appreciate it kthnx. Shinji is lashing out on purpose of course…but a boatload of kittens sounds too cute and Misa…yep that's just how she is. Haha everyone hates her…I'm sure she won't play much of a major role anymore anyway. -.- just 'cuz I'm a "non-swearer" doesn't mean you can't swear around me. I'm the only one who doesn't in my entire family save my mother…cute…/slap. Kiss? HAHAHAHA. You really think they will after how this ended?

Thepillows93: haha…glad…Haruka made you…hot. Ahahahahhaa…that's a lotta gay babies…that's all I have to say.

LaCazadora: Heh, thanks for the kind comments and I hope you like this one as well.

Garfield: Yeah Keiko's pretty easy to hate.

krugern: Glad you liked the chapter. I also thought Yuu's reaction was pretty funny regarding the talk Misa and H&M were having and Michiru knowing Haruka's time of the month seems hilariously plausible as well. I never really said it, but yes, Shina does realize the meaning behind what Haruka was saying. It'll come into play again later, when the two parents finally have their talk with Michiru. Haruka wasn't as strong in this chappy as she was in the last one…we'll see how her decision affects everything.

Haruka-Michiru: haha internal combustion from thinking about how the ending would become?? That's awesome. Well…here's how the ring comes into play, although of course I'm not done w/ it yet…of course…hahaha being the author has many perks…including that one. I do love a good intrigue. After this chapter, I doubt Haruka has much to prove to the Kaiohs…although now, they've found that they're stuck in a corner regarding their daughter and Haruka and I guess we'll just have to see how they handle all the great depression coming up.