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

20. Happiness

Chapter 20: Happiness

She wondered briefly if she could call in sick for her own wedding planning. It sounded utterly ridiculous, but the notion of doing so didn't sound so bad to her anymore. It's not as if anyone needed her…It's not like she had a say at her own wedding in the first place. She should just call one of her parents, tell them to buy her whatever dress they think looked good and move onwards to more important things…like picking the photographers and ushers for the ceremony itself.

She sighed, thumbing the knob of her condominium door and standing at the foot of it for an entire minute before twisting the knob and going out, taking the elevator to go downstairs where Satoshi would be, no doubt, waiting for her presence. She chuckled wryly at the idea of calling in sick right then and looked forward evenly, a tired look etched upon her beautiful features.

Just two more weeks and it'll be over…

The beginning of the end…

She found that she had been dreading the wedding date since its mention, but in the light of the new things surrounding her, she wanted to let it come already so she could get it over with. Maybe…if they weren't seeing each other due to obligation day after day, Haruka would be less cold. Maybe if their pretenses for hanging out weren't about her…the tomboy wouldn't be so distant. Because there wasn't any other reason for her recent attitude other than that she was tired of being a part of a wedding that she could care less about.

Maybe…she's tired of me in general and just wants to get away already…

"Ojou-sama, we're here."

She looked up at Satoshi's kind and elderly face, but couldn't smile in thanks to him amidst thef troubles brewing at the forefront of her thoughts. She merely nodded, opened the door for herself, and stood outside of the bridal shop they were in yesterday, glancing at the wedding dress on display at the front of the establishment with little to no thought or care before going inside, laughter pealing from there as she made her way in.

She stopped for a moment to just listen, tuned out her fiancé's own laughter and focused her entire being on that low, amused chuckle. Her heart began to throb again and she wondered briefly why she couldn't just go in there and demand that they talk. They were friends! At least to her they were…so…why couldn't they just patch it up and talk about…whatever it was that was bothering the taller woman?

But her feet seemed glued to the ground…and the more she waited, concealed behind that wall, the faster her nerves died…until she hadn't realized she'd been standing there and a small hand placed upon her shoulder woke her up from her reverie. Turning back, she gazed into worried pools of same sapphires and smiled automatically, the frown in her face still pretty much imminent along with her obviously troubled eyes.

"Are you alright, dear?" her father asked and before she knew it she had nodded as well.

Everything nowadays seemed automatic and she was hoping this would hold out so she wouldn't look weak…not in front of her parents, not in front of her fiancé, and especially not in front of her best friend.

"They're already in there you know," Keiko said with an eyebrow raised and walked passed her and towards the already sitting party consisting of Hanako, Haruka, and Jiro.

She stood in front of her parents for a brief moment, seeing the worry flash before her eyes as she composed herself in front of them.

"What else is left after this?" she asked noncommittally as she turned into the room, casting everyone's attention to her as she turned back to her parents with her question.

"Only last minute preparations and we'll be finished," Shina said as they made their way to the group, Michiru sitting in the very middle as was the format from yesterday and her parents sitting to her left side with their wedding planner, Jiro, his sister, and Haruka to her right, everyone in a semicircular fashion. "Beauty specialists in regards to everyone's hair and make up, ushers for the guests, planning the seating arrangements…"

"Ojii-san hasn't said anything yet?"

"He has," Shinji sighed. "He doesn't want to have to do anything with it…He concerned his dislike for the practice and would prefer not to know its continuation at all. I tried speaking with him, but…sorry Michiru-chan…I don't think it's possible to have the ceremony at his tea house."

The violinist nodded numbly. It's not like it would've mattered in the end if she was around her sister or not anyway…

"We've changed the wedding invitation locale to the second garden that we visited that day two weeks ago," her mother continued. "It's big enough and—

"I understand," she said softly, pasting what she hoped was a look of indifference in her face. "The invitations had been sent out with the changes already?"

Shina nodded. "Everyone knows where to go in regards of the ceremony."

"Alright, let's get done then." She turned to Hanako and stated, "Look around the store for the design you want. Color shouldn't matter. We'll just make them create a new one of your liking that would match the color of the best man's."

The young Sugiura gave a look of glee before standing up and making her way around the store, looking every which way as she did so.

"Oh," her father sounded, perking her and the other people's attention to him. "A friend of mine from the city council has the necessary paperwork for your marriage license. Can you come to Kaioh-Miroku tonight to get that out of the way?"

She merely nodded, stood up, and walked away from the group, her eyes picking up wedding dresses every now and then, but none stuck out the way she wanted them to. A minute into her "sightseeing" and scuffling was made behind her.

"Need help?"

Her heart twinge involuntarily as Haruka stood casually beside her, hands in her pockets, tan blazer removed, and navy blue dress shirt rolled up to her elbows, two buttons off from the top showing the white undershirt she was wearing beneath.

"Nh," she voiced without looking at her and thumbed a random dress in front of her. "Can you ask someone within the store to pull in a rack full of wedding dresses? I'll just keep trying them on until something catches my eye."

"Alright."

She left soon after, the familiar scent the blonde left in her departure gathering the violinist's attention and making her attention flitter at the spot she once stood in silent melancholy.

It took another ten minutes for the employer of the store to bring out the wedding dresses and situate them in front of a huge three way mirror, the dressing room behind and the plush chairs moved to the front of it where everyone can sit down to watch. Hanako was in the middle of picking hers out and took a break as she realized what was going on, the aqua haired woman joining the fray as the employee pulled one of the dresses out, motioning her to follow her to the back where she could help her put it on.

O-----O

Haruka sat down in her seat and watched the smaller woman as she followed the alterationist to the backroom, her eyes straying after her figure until she disappeared fully. She sighed inwardly.

Maybe she was going through this the wrong way…

She looked at Hanako who sat beside her brother and frowned. They're not close enough…She was hoping that they would be so Michiru could lean back on someone that wasn't her for the time being while she was moreover being an ass, but…they're just not close enough.

"What's eating you…other than the usual?" Jiro asked beside her as she rubbed her forehead in annoyance.

"Nothing," she muttered in reply. "Sugiura-san," she called, grabbing the younger woman's attention. "You and Michiru close?"

"Were," the reddish haired woman said with a small shrug. "Moreover high school than any other time, but she and I had our different cliques so although we were friends…we weren't at the same time. More like…acquaintances."

Yeah, this so wasn't going to work…

"Why?"

"Just wondering," she answered casually.

"You little plan just went pfft," Jiro mocked as his thumb's up went for a nosedive in the air.

"Tch…"

"Giving up?"

"Course not…"

"Can't believe you're being an ass to her and keeping it up," he said lowly as he leaned towards her, their conversation kept silently between them. "Aren't you ashamed at all?"

"Of course I am," Haruka muttered, crossing her arms over her chest. "But if this is what I have to do in order for her to be better in the long run then—

"A friend of mine…huge fan of Michiru's music…went to her concert last night."

She looked at him as he cut her off, a serious frown etched on his handsome face.

"Sat…in the third row…so he was pretty up front. Did you go?"

"I said I would didn't I?"

"Crappy seats right?"

"Yeah…so I could leave early…" Too bad she still caught me…

"He said she cried on stage."

"What?!"

Everyone who had been busy with their own conversations around them perked up at her outburst as she only looked at Jiro in surprise.

"In the middle of Distant...she cried. Now…we both know Michiru's into her music…but her feelings usually don't show on stage…but I trust him and when he told me she cried…she definitely cried. And you told me…you'd stop this bull crap when she did…so are you going to or not?"

"She did not cry…"

"The first few rows saw it…Some spoke to her about it during the charity gala afterwards and she laughed it off, saying she was caught in the moment of her music so yeah…she did."

"Well then maybe she did get caught up in the moment of—

"Oh shut up! Stop making excuses and stop this whole thing already for crying out loud! You're hurting her…on purpose. I don't know where all that love went, but if what you're showing her right now is how you show your 'love'…keep it to yourself."

It was the first time Jiro had effectively gotten her to shut up and as silence dwindled on between them, sounds broke out from the back as Michiru came out wearing her first wedding gown.

Haruka's breath hitched in her throat.

She wore a white silky dress that fell to the floor, ivory heart shaped sequins adorning the bodice and scoop back and her alabaster arms glinting from the lighting around her. Elbow length gloves surrounded her hands and she looked beautiful, if not for the silent look of melancholic indifference in her otherwise delicate face.

She looked sadly up at her for a second before her glance flitted over to Jiro whose mouth was opened rather candidly.

"Wow…you look beautiful Michiru," he breathed and stood up, eyeing her and the dress as he did so.

"Yes? No?" she asked, not paying heed to his compliments.

He stood in front of her and gave a questioning look to the Kaiohs who were also speechless.

Keiko then stood up as well surprising everyone in the room and made her way to where Jiro stood, eyeing her dress as well. She shrugged.

"It doesn't accentuate your curves enough, but that's just me," she stated, looking up at sapphire eyes indifferently.

"I agree," Hanako said from beside Shinji. "I mean…the dress I'll pick would probably outshine it…and we wouldn't want that to happen."

She nodded at the words of the two women, pulled the nearest wedding dress to her from the rack, turned around, and went back in the dressing room, her alterationist following her shortly thereafter.

Haruka bit her bottom lip as her frown doubled.

She missed her…

Her bravado concerning the first day and her no touching rule was doable, but the more the days passed, the more she couldn't help, but want to be close to her…as she was before. And it was only the second day! But…but she had to keep her distance…It was for the sake of Michiru's future…She would be better off without her in the long run. She couldn't see this now, but she would…

She would.

Looking back up she hadn't noticed that Hanako and Keiko had made their way to the bride-to-be and Jiro had situated himself next to her again, the two women pulling and prodding the dress currently on Michiru's figure.

It was a white gown with a scalloped, strapless white silk bodice and the skirt falling down in layers of sheer silk leading to the chapel train.

She bit her bottom lip at the sight of her again.

"Looks a little better, but still not… 'pow' enough…" the raven haired woman sighed and eyed the bottom part of the dress in scrutiny.

"That bottom's hideous…" Hanako said beside her, and they both nodded in agreement.

"Here, try this," Keiko stated, pulled a dress from the rack and handing it to the alterationist.

Michiru nodded, grabbed the bottom part of the dress up and walked back in.

Haruka couldn't see how that could be "hideous"…Nothing on the aqua haired woman looked hideous! She stood up and walked to the rack as well, noting the eyes that followed her movements as she did so.

"Anything you would like her to try on if she were to be your bride?" her ex-girlfriend asked with an unpleasantly placed mocking tone in her voice.

She thumbed through the dresses as disinterestedly as she felt for what the purple eyed woman had just uttered, eyebrow rising in interest as she came upon a creamy dress. It didn't look like a normal wedding gown, but…She pulled it out of its slot, handed it to Hanako and sat back down, arms across her chest and legs crossed as well.

"Interesting," the young Sugiura girl said as she gave the dress Haruka picked a once over. "But with Michiru-chan's curves…I think this would look soooo good."

Keiko eyed the dress in her hands and didn't say a word…probably because she kind of agreed.

Michiru came out wearing what seemed to be the simplest gown yet, a white satin gown with a dropped waist, trumpet skirt, chapel train, and lace detail.

"No…" the two women said in almost near unison, smiling up at one another proudly as they did so.

"Here Michiru-san," Hanako called and handed her the dress Haruka had just picked. "Let's see if this is our winner."

Michiru looked at it disinterestedly as she had the knack of doing so all morning and went back in the backroom.

"Onii-chan…anything you want her to try on? You are the groom…"

"Not from where everyone else is standing…" Keiko said under her breath and smirked up at Jiro who merely gave her a dark look.

He stood up, if only to shut her up, went over to the rack of dresses and thumbed through them…his face one of sheer confusion after a long minute.

"Do they all seem to look alike Jiro-kun?" the tomboy asked with a smirk as he looked back at her with puzzled eyes and just…nodded.

"I'll…leave it up to you detail oriented women…" he muttered and sat back down.

Michiru came out and Hanako clapped, Keiko smiled widely and many breaths hitched in loudly as she did so, her sapphire eyes looking below her body in scrutiny.

"It looks better than I thought it would," she confessed and picked at the silver beading detail at the very front of the gown.

It was an ivory silk satin mermaid gown, the beading detail etched nicely on top of the bodice and the back of the dress rolling in small waves behind her. It was held up by thick one inch silk straps over her creamy shoulders and given the correct color for the arm length gloves she currently had on, it would match and look perfectly on her.

"Do you like it dear?" Shinji asked with a small smile in his face, looking up at her expectantly.

She nodded. "But we can still look at others if you wish—

"Do you want to?"

Same orbs of deep blue locked evenly together before Michiru gave an outward sigh and looked downwards.

"I'm tired…"

It was the first time she had ever stated it out loud which caused the room to fall completely silent. And it was the second time in her life that Haruka had seen her look so forlorn…so lonely…so…tired…as she could only glance sadly at the dress cascading across her figure. Her creamy shoulders were haunch over in reverberated sadness and as she looked up and smiled, her sapphire orbs shone back emotionally with one of utter heartbreak. It reminded her of that night she had seen her outside the parking lot of Trine. Only she couldn't get up and console her…Her body could only stay rooted on the chair she was already on.

"I'm happy with this," she said softly, tucking a lose strand of aquamarine curl behind her ear and looking away. "Let's pick out Hanako-chan's and move along."

Her resolve was going to break soon…she could feel it. She didn't even know what was stopping her from just standing up and being a mere friend…

She and Michiru hadn't conversed in days…and she didn't need to remind herself time and time again that she was the cause of it…but it hurt…to see her look so alone. Recently she's probably felt alone…and it was all her doing. Maybe…she should ask her out for lunch…Just a simple invitation…A get together…something!

Because she missed her.

In all honesty's sake…she missed her. And she knew being this way was going to be hard...but still…she wouldn't be able to keep it up…Not for her sake and especially not for Michiru's parents'. Could she keep doing this even after the wedding? No…she couldn't. Because it was painful knowing Michiru was sad…but even more excruciating was the fact that she knew she was the main root of it.

"Michiru, you want to go out for a bite to eat before heading our separate ways for the day?"

Haruka looked at Jiro who had asked the question she wanted…and wanted to smack him then. She looked up at Michiru who was again wearing the light blue sundress she wore prior to the wedding gown fittings and gulped at how far she seemed. She stood…no less than four feet away…but she had been pretty much looked over. There hasn't even been a five second time lapse in which they were looking at one another…and she should've been happy…because this was exactly what she wanted. But to be right next to her and to be so far away at the same time, she presumed, hurt even more than a vocal outburst of anger by either of them to one another.

"Sorry Jiro, I already have plans," the violinist said softly as she sat down, eyeing Hanako as she pulled dress after dress out of the racks and compiling them in a vacant one.

"Oh, where are you off to?"

"Errands," she said simply. "Important errands."

"Alright, another time then?"

She smiled up at him and nodded, looked towards the front and waited patiently with everyone else for Hanako to dress so the picking and choosing can begin.

Smile at me too, the blonde thought sadly as she furtively glanced at her un-meeting sapphire eyes. Even though I don't deserve it…

It took twenty more minutes before they decided on a Hanako's bridesmaid gown: a full length satin strapless dress with a slight sweetheart neckline, pleated bodice, and a long silver silk sash tied to the front left. It would take a couple more days to make the dress into the desired aquamarine color, but it was perfectly suited given the design and it would match what the blonde and the rest of the men would wear for the occasion.

Haruka got up and bowed as everyone else was doing it as well, giving one another words of good job and good work. Shinji even walked up to her and patted her on the back…probably because of her pick for the wedding gown, but the little show of fatherly love wasn't missed by her and she bowed even more sheepishly as he could only smile that same one she remembered when she showed him the condominiums around town.

She looked up at Michiru who stood next to her mother, speaking with her about something and contemplated on saying goodbye. She didn't do it yesterday…because she thought it would strengthen her resolve…but in the end it only made her feel like a huge jerk. She began to step towards her to at least acknowledge her departure, but the violinist had by then turned around, gave everyone in the room an even smile, a small word of thanks, and left soon after.

This is what you wanted right?

She closed her eyes to dispel the pain reverberating from the depths of her hollow heart.

Yeah…

She gulped, bowed one last time to anyone else present in the room, and left as well.

O-----O

She didn't know what she was doing here, but she knew the reason wasn't for anyone, but Haruka. The guard in front of the store gave her a deep bow and opened the door for her. Shortly after, she was greeted by a familiar and ecstatic, but nonetheless confused face.

"It's good to see you again Kaioh-san. How may I help you?"

"I would like to buy something for someone…"

He laughed gaily. "Well that's definitely ambiguous. Do you have anything more specific in mind?"

She walked up to the glass counters and peered through them, eyeing the bands of diamonds, gold, and platinum that littered the insides neatly.

"For your fiancé?" he asked with his eyebrows wagging.

The violinist smiled politely, but didn't give any indication to hazard another guess. He probably presumed that was it.

She walked around the room to look at all the selections they had and gazed at the familiar one that Haruka had bought recently.

"Ahh yes, I still shiver at the thought of Tenoh-san's ring. Must be one hell of a lucky girl to get that don't you think?"

"Yes, definitely," she said with a resigned nod and smile.

Her eyes picked up a wide band and pointed at it for the store manager to grab. Smiling widely, he carefully picked up the box from inside and placed it before her.

"Fourteen karat white gold with a burnished setting," he began, caressing the ring and the areas of explanation as he did so. "Note the pair of diamonds inside per ridge and the cut gap in the middle as well as the side of the ring gives it a very masculine look."

She nodded and picked it up, knowing already that she had decided even before the man before had explained.

"Sixteen diamonds total?"

He nodded. "Two per ridge, eight ridges surrounding the entire band."

"May I have it in colored diamonds?"

"Kaioh-san, I would insist that you put in colored diamonds."

"Deep blue and yellow…is it doable?"

"Anything is doable with the right price."

She nodded in consent. "Price won't be a problem. Have each color of diamond per space, the yellow diamond on the right and the blue on the left…in that order all around the band…please."

He bowed. "As you wish."

"When do you think it'll be done by?"

"Next week I presume. We are in need of both blue and yellow diamonds at the moment and it will take another few days to contact our holder. But! I promise that it will be ready at least a week before your wedding date. That's two weeks from now yes?"

Michiru nodded, although she didn't really care as to whether or not it would be made before or after her wedding…

"Wonderful. Thank you for coming in today Kaioh-san."

"Thank you for letting me in on such short notice," she said with a bow. "I know you only do meetings by appointment only so…"

"Your legacy as well as your parents' are engraved in the Japanese economy Kaioh-san," he stated with a wave of dismissal. "To turn you away would be a crime."

She smiled tiredly.

Money definitely did make the world go round.

Perking up, she remembered one last thing she needed and looked across the room at the chains near the pendants and necklaces. Walking to it, the store manager followed her movements from behind the glass counter as she peered into their selection of chains, from platinum, to silver, and gold, white or otherwise.

She pointed at what seemed to be a plain one as the store manager pulled it out for her.

"White gold?" she asked.

He nodded. "Indeed it is. Fourteen karats…the same as the ring you've chosen. The classic 'Figaro' man's link chain. It's approximately eighteen inches long, thirty three grams in weight, and finely polished. Two hundred thousand yen for this alone."

She nodded in consent. "Once the ring is done, can you loop it around that and have them go together?"

"Of course ojou-sama. A ring upon a necklace, yes? Sugiura-kun will be ecstatic."

She could only smile at his easily presumed words.

O-----O

"Haruka-chan…I have never wanted to spank you in your whole life, more than I want to spank you right this moment…"

"Kaa-san…"

"I told you this company would be fine even with my absence and you deliberately disobeyed me!"

"I didn't want you to come home with a pile of crap to deal with!"

"I would rather deal with this than to see you in this disgruntled state!"

"I am not in a 'disgruntled' state…"

"You've been miserable since I've seen you and I seriously doubt it only started today. What did you do?"

"What do you mean what did I do?"

"What did you do to Michiru-chan?"

"I didn't do anything to her!"

"You did something aka-chan…You wouldn't look so pissy if you didn't…"

"Tch…"

Yoshiko looked at her child strictly and pursed her lips at the sight of her: at her frowning face, arms across the chest, body leaning back tiredly on a sighing executive chair.

"What did you do?" she asked, a little worriedly this time, and pulled a vacant rolling chair to her and sitting down.

Her daughter looked like she didn't know what to say for a moment before her frown deepened. "I told her parents I would back off."

"Why?!"

"Is it not obvious to everyone, but me or something?" she asked loudly. "I didn't do it for my sake! I did it for hers! So she wouldn't have to choose—

"You did it for her happiness."

"Yes!"

"Is she happy?"

She knew it was simple question that didn't need answering because the answer would be the exact opposite of the desired goal.

"She will be…"

"How do you know?"

"It's best that I yield. In the future…she'll…everything around her will be perfect if I stand down now…so why shouldn't I?"

"Because everything's perfect as it is right now with you not needing to."

"I'm tired of fighting okaa-san! I'm so tired of it!"

"You'll stop fighting for her?"

"If it's for the best…yes. And I completely think that it's for the best—

"Then you're blind aka-chan," Yoshiko said simply and stood up. "If you think yielding to the Kaiohs' wishes will make Michiru happier in the future…then you, my dear daughter, are blind. I can already tell that your relationship with her has dwindled to an all time low just because of this brash decision you've decided to put upon yourself. Who are you to think Michiru-chan doesn't need you? Who are you to just…shove your feelings aside and upon doing so shoving hers in the process? She is your friend. Deep inside, she is more. If you love her…don't hurt her. You know in the deep recesses of your mind that you are doing that as we speak. You are hurting the woman that you love. And for what? For thinking that…she'll have a wonderful future without her best friend? You may not think you're important to her…but I know she thinks you are. She needs you in her utmost dire moment and…as an ironic twist…you won't be there for her…because…you think she'll be happy. Happy…really?

"She is in pain and so are you. Get your mind out of the gutter, shove that useless pride of yours aside for two seconds…and talk to her. Do not make rash decisions without talking to her about it first…because she's a good girl…and she doesn't deserve such ill treatment from you. I consider her a daughter of my own…an in-law if that's how you'd like to see it, because that's how I like to see it. And as a part of my family…I will not sit by and let her get stomped on by her friend who just happens to be my egomaniacal daughter. I will not stand for it. Fix it…and don't come back to this company until you do."

Young emeralds widened at her words and although her throat felt lumpy at what she just said, she wouldn't take it back.

Yoshiko sighed and looked at her daughter dejectedly, feeling more tired right now than she had been the entire week she's been gone. "You said you would protect her from anything that harms her, yet you are the one hurting her right now. I don't see how you can sit there and tell me that her happiness means the world to you if you're the one stripping it out of her bare hands.

"She needs you. As much if not more than you need her. Don't stand down from your feelings of love only because you're losing a match Haruka-chan. If anything, use that pride of yours to get leverage. You're not sure of anyone else's intent regarding Michiru-chan's happiness, but you definitely know your own. You want to make her happy. Everyone else might have some other thing in the forefront of their minds, but Michiru-chan is in yours. Her happiness means the world to you. What makes her happy…is you. So…why you're choosing to take yourself away from her is…baffling to me. You might as well just tell her straightforwardly of your intent of leaving than trying to be there, but not be there for her at the same time…because you're confusing her…and hurting her with your mixed messages. And with all that Michiru-chan's going through, you know she doesn't deserve something so uncouth…especially from you."

They stared down at each other for a minute before Yoshiko shook her head in anger, turned around, and walked out of the room.

O-----O

This wasn't a good day for her. It's been a long time since she's had a telling off from her mother and although the elder Tenoh told her to leave the premises of the company…well…she wouldn't…and even the death glares and cold shoulders thrown her way weren't enough to make her go away. What would she do with all her spare time anyway? Calling Michiru nowadays seemed more painful than swallowing broken glass and she could only blame herself for it.

This fact became pronounced that night as she loitered in her office, her incoming bin empty, her outgoing bin full, and her meetings all pretty much taken care of.

She swung herself mindlessly in circles with her chair, looking up at the white ceiling as she did so and Tokyo's clear and busy night life painting a picture of near tranquility behind her. She hadn't let herself think for the remainder of the day since she knew exactly who she'd be thinking of given the chance…but more recently than ever, she's found it harder and harder to just wipe her mind clear of any thoughts and just drift.

What was Michiru doing now? She wondered if she had already signed the marriage license paper with Jiro…with a face full of indifference and a strained smile to accompany it.

"I'm tired…"

She gulped the feeling down her throat and stopped her chair from circling mindlessly, planting her feet firmly on the floor beneath her. She sighed and clutched her temples roughly.

Her mother was right…of course she was…But everything seemed to make sense to her only a few nights ago! She really thought that she was doing the right thing…And in essence, she was. Shinji and Shina were nicer to her now; all three of them had been in the same room for two whole days and neither Kaioh had even looked at her badly…She knew this little change should've somehow affected Michiru, but…did she even notice it?

Her relationship with Yoshiko wasn't going to get any better until she spoke to her either…but that seemed like the hardest task right now. To call her up and sound so casual as if they weren't in some kind of a falling out seemed like she was slapping her in the face with a big smile accompanied with it.

Who was she kidding? She was too scared to call her up because she doesn't want to get rejected. She's been acting like an ass recently, so why can't the violinist act like that to her? It's only right that she does…But with the way she was being distant today, the blonde knew she wasn't doing it because she was angry at her for acting the way she's been. She's been acting like she needs room to breathe so Michiru was merely giving her room to breathe…She was too kind…and thoughtful…and the guilt that's been gnawing at her insides had seemingly doubled in weight.

Yuki's phone from the outside rang out, taking her out of her reverie and glancing at the direction the phone made before getting up and checking who it was. She hoped it was someone with something she could do because it still felt too early to go home and she wanted her thoughts to stop running around so rampantly. Her mother was out on a dinner meeting with a select few of the board as well so there wouldn't be a chance that they could glare at each other within the small confines of the receptionist area.

"Tenoh-sama's office, Takashi Yuki speaking. How may I help you?"

She stood in front of her secretary's desk like a bored child, picking her name plate up with a little less than a passive stare and putting it back down. She listened with one open ear and merely stood there, awaiting her fate.

"Oh, Kaioh-sama."

Her emerald eyes widened at the name uttered as her secretary only gave her a questioning look.

"Would you like to speak with her?" she asked giving her a disapproving frown before furtively turning the speaker phone on and Michiru's familiar and melodic voice danced across the room.

"No…I know she's busy," she said, sadness and melancholy etched in her tone. Haruka felt as if she was breaking in half. "I would've called her cell, but I didn't want to impose. Can you just relay to her that the planning stage is duly over and all that's left to do will be taken care of by myself, my parents or Jiro? She's been very busy lately and I know how much it means to her to stay working in her company so I don't want to impose on anymore unnecessary topics concerning the wedding planning. Assure her that we're merely taking care of last minute preparations…chefs, beauticians…things she doesn't have to worry about helping with…so she can stay and work instead of going out of her way to help. The times will be pretty random anyway so it'll probably be more problematic for her if she tries to join us...but…tell her I said thank you and that…I hope she takes care of herself. I'll call you again to tell her when the rehearsal dinner will be concerning the wedding and…other than that, she's free to do whatever she likes."

Yuki looked at her expectantly for a moment, but she could only nod silently, her heart throbbing against her chest painfully as she looked at the speaker phone.

"I will be sure she receives your message."

"Thank you Yuki-san. I appreciate it."

She hung up soon after while still looking at the depressed face sported by the blonde.

"Are you alright Tenoh-sama?"

She looked down at her feet and nodded.

You'll never impose on anything I'm doing, she thought bitterly to herself as she made her way back inside her office and closing the door behind her.

But all week she's been giving the idea that she's been far too busy for her…even going outright and saying it. And now more than ever, she was second guessing her decision…because she was hurting her…more than making her happy…and was the pain she was dealing blow after blow right now worth her happiness in the end? She was starting to feel that…it wasn't. Not if Michiru thought so highly of her and that happiness seemed like a joke without her best friend around to share it with.

But her family should always come first…and sooner than she wanted, she was back in square one…She didn't know how to deal with it all…so maybe…maybe she should just wait…and let time do the chipping away…Because time healed all wounds and made people forget…and she was hoping that the violinist would do the latter…even though in complete irony, she would be more than happy to think Michiru would never want to.

O-----O

The days passed by excruciatingly slow for the blonde. To mock her, the company wasn't getting many deals and partnerships concerning jobs around the city and her mother was still pretty much ignoring her presence whenever she made herself known. A long time ago, they've both decided to take care of exact opposite responsibilities in the company so neither woman would ever need to be in charge of the other. This worked out best right now because this meant they didn't need to spend a lot of time together…and it's not as if Yoshiko wanted to grace her with her presence more than how she used to. Haruka wasn't hurt…just kind of annoyed…that her mother didn't or wouldn't try to understand why she was acting the way she was.

It was on a pretty boring Wednesday when she was loitering the spot around Yuki's desk again, the old woman looking at her disapprovingly in the process, that her mother came out of her office and gave a little biting sniff in the air.

"Will you calm it for a second, mother?" she asked in mild annoyance and picked up a frame of young children…probably a picture of her secretary's grandchildren or…great grandchildren; she seemed old enough.

"I'm merely waiting for a meeting to get started. What are you doing, dear daughter?"

"Wasting my life away in here…" she grunted, crossed her arms, and faced her mother's as peeved expression. "There aren't any jobs you're discreetly hiding from me is there?"

"Well now that you mention it, that would be a fabulous idea Haruka-chan. Yuki-san make sure I get new files concerning new projects when they arrive. By all means necessary, don't let my wonderful daughter grab even a hold of the file folder."

Their secretary gave what seemed to be an exasperated smile and went back to the computer before her, paying no mind to the squabbling mother and daughter that decided to grace her presence that afternoon.

Haruka scratched the back of her head roughly in irritation and frowned at her mother who waited by the foot of the elevator patiently.

"Who are you having a meeting with?"

"No one important to you."

"Let me handle the case…"

"I doubt you can handle much of anything nowadays concerning this certain project Haruka-chan…"

And as she finished her words, the elevator door opened and appeared Michiru. It felt as if her heart was just shoved deeply down her throat and as their eyes met, the violinist gave a look of surprise at her presence first before bowing gracefully, and stepped out of the elevator.

"Michiru-chan! It's so nice to see you again, dear," Yoshiko called, engulfing her in a motherly hug as the tomboy stood in the sidelines.

The aqua haired woman gave a genuine smile. "It's nice to see you too Yoshiko-san," she greeted. "I trust all matters were taken care of when you went abroad?"

"No business talk, I insist. I have enough of that with my own daughter…"

She gave an apologetic smile and turned towards Haruka.

"Did…you get my message alright?"

Her saddened frown doubled at the mere knowledge that she was talking to her, and all of the sudden, all she wanted to do was stride to her and take her in her arms.

"Haruka-chan, will you answer her for goodness sakes? I have some things I need to speak with her about and neither of us have the time to lollygag around."

She swallowed the growing lump down her throat unsuccessfully, the throbbing in her heart growing by the second. "Y…yeah. I did."

Michiru nodded. "Good. Rehearsal dinner will be next Friday and the actual ceremony on Saturday. We'll need everyone taking part in the ceremony to be at the garden before six…will that be too early for you?"

She shook her head, her words caught and lost in the deep recesses of her throat.

The violinist smiled at her before looking back at Yoshiko who was, by now, ushering her into her office.

"What did you get us for lunch Michiru-chan?" she asked good naturedly as the double sided door to her office began to close.

"I bought sandwiches from a deli near my studio. I've grown pretty fond of them over the years. I hope they're to your liking," the aqua haired woman replied, and finally, the heavy door shut close and all sounds inside the office dulled to a soft murmur.

The young CEO stood at her spot for at least five more minutes, the burning of her heart apparent and her hands curled into frustrated fists at her side. Swallowing the growing lump down her throat and into her hollow system, she bit the bottom of her lip roughly, strode to her office, and closed the door behind her as well.

O-----O

"How have you been?"

It seemed like a dumb question coming from her because the lines in the aqua haired woman's forehead were apparent, small bags peaking out from beneath her eyes and her overall form was more…haunch over…defeated since the last they had seen and spoken with one another.

"Tired…" Michiru answered with wry laughter, placing the sandwiches between them and looking at a third one she bought hesitantly.

"Would you like me to give it to her now?"

Uncertain sapphires flittered away. "Has she eaten?"

"I doubt it…but I don't want her to be present in the room when we speak," Yoshiko said rather easily.

"She looked more irritated than usual."

"Probably my fault," the elder female Tenoh shrugged. "We haven't been getting along since I came back. But! I didn't ask you here today to speak about my daughter, although I know that subject has fascinated you for months on end now."

She smiled at the blush that crept through Michiru's cheek and bit a portion of the deli styled sandwich in her hands, liking the salami taste accompanying it.

"I insisted she help you during your planning so you wouldn't look like a wrecking ball, but my idiot of a child wanted to work instead…" Yoshiko sighed loudly. "That's the main reason why we're fighting…"

"You shouldn't fight over such a small thing…"

"You're no small matter Michiru-chan…Haruka is being an insensitive jerk at the moment and I…completely apologize."

"She was merely helping her own company out. I can't…fault her for that Yoshiko-san."

"She is not the angel your eyes insist she is…but…we're talking about her again and we shouldn't."

Michiru laughed at her peeved expression.

"Oh! Here…"

The violinist reached into her bag and gave her an invitation, the elder female Tenoh looking at it in silent agony before looking up at her.

"Chen-san did an amazing job with it."

"As expected from him," she replied passively. "So it's really going to happen then isn't it?"

Her heart broke at the sight of the smiling smaller woman who only nodded slowly, as if the realization was just coming to her, but knowing the thought had graced her mind probably more times than anyone in the world.

"I've been…looking more forward to it than dreading it recently…"

Yoshiko frowned darkly. No doubt caused by Haruka…

"It's been so stressful to everyone involved and it would be nice to finally take a break. My parents have been juggling the planning and the company and I know it's slowly, but surely taking its toll on them, and Jiro has also been a mess for a while now. Haruka had to revert back into her job for…probably sanity reasons because my parents haven't been the kindest to her, although they've been acting much friendlier recently and…I don't know. I just feel that…when it's over…everyone will be happier…so it's worth it."

"Everyone except you, that is."

The violinist smiled wryly. "It's not as bad as everyone sees it as…Jiro and I are in the same page and I know him well enough to know that he'll be a good husband. In the end, regardless of my happiness or not, there will be a lot of fruits that will come to bear…and…I feel like…everything…will be better in general. Everyone's been so strung out and…I just want it to revert back to how it used to be.

"Haruka's been acting distant and if anything…at least I can talk to her normally again at the end of it when it doesn't have to feel like she's making it an obligation to see me."

She could see that amidst all the things Michiru had just stated, the last was the one that was most important…and the feeling of wanting to strangle her child became even more apparent in her system.

They ate in relative silence for a few minutes until Yoshiko drank some water to swallow the sandwich down and asked, "Have you spoken to her about it?"

"Sort of…"

The young woman hadn't eaten much of anything yet, completely lost in her melancholy.

"Not really…She says she's just busy working…But recently, I feel as if she just wants to get away from me."

The elder Tenoh's jaw clamped at the sight of the other woman's haunch over and still form.

"I can't remember the last time we've spoken…really spoken. Whenever we see each other we're silent. We haven't conversed for a long time. We barely even look at one another…I haven't touched her in…weeks…and it's slowly eating me up inside, but I don't know what to do. If I exert some effort into trying to talk to her, I'm afraid she'll shut me down…and that would hurt even more…so I've decided to just let her be…because she'll still be there…regardless of the fact that we're not talking…and I would rather have her near me, than not be with me at all…"

Unfathomable sadness filled Michiru's dull sapphire eyes and Yoshiko couldn't handle it anymore. She placed her sandwich down, walked over to the depressed smaller woman, and engulfed her in a motherly hug, the violinist's shoulders shaking helplessly as she buried herself in the older woman's shoulders. She brushed her cascading hair with her hand, rubbing her back with the other and fought with herself to cry with her, the pain reverberating out of the young woman's figure in such harsh waves that it seemed like a losing battle.

I wish you can see what you've done Haruka-chan…because this is the happiness that you've been working towards…

O-----O

She's been duly kicked out of the company…She went for a short lunch break…came back…and lo and behold…her door was locked tight. Her keycard wouldn't work…manually accessing the keypad wouldn't work, and when she cornered Yuki who had come back from her lunch break as well, her secretary had no idea what it was about…so her only choice was to find her mother.

A short elevator ride later, she found Yoshiko in Conference Room C with some of the board members. She strode in noisily and walked towards her, hell bent on getting the correct keycard for her office door.

"Give me the correct keycard."

"Mind your manners and let us finish this."

"Give me my damn keycard!"

"Haruka…don not make me say it again."

Young emeralds widened at how her mother just called her and the way she had just strictly spoken. She couldn't even remember a time she had just called her by her first name without the honorifics implied.

"Wait for me at my office and stay there until I'm done here. Do not make me repeat myself for I am having a bad day and you are the root of the problem."

She stood there baffled for a second as shocked and awed looks came out of the board members present in the room. Curling her hands into balled fists, she frowned angrily at the disgruntled feelings raging in her system, looked at her mother who only looked straight ahead and wouldn't give her a single glance, turned around, and left the room.

As directed, she waited in her mother's office, legs shaking vigorously in quiet anticipation for her arrival. A few minutes later, she got up from the executive chair and began pacing the room, unsure of what to do with herself.

It took another half an hour before her mother came in and at this point, she might as well had been a caged animal, but Yoshiko was her mother for a good reason because the elder female Tenoh stood up height to height with her and stared her down, older emeralds demanding attention and respect.

"Sit down."

She stood defiantly for a minute, her frown deepening, but finally took a seat on the vacant chair in front of her mother's desk. Yoshiko remained standing, her figure overbearingly tall as she stood over her daughter, jaw clamped, lips pursed, and an angry scowl laced over her features.

"As of now…I am more than ashamed to know that you're my daughter."

This one sentence shook her insides roughly and her gaze easily fell from her mother's, her attention falling to the floor as the elder Tenoh paced before her.

"You claim to do things for her happiness? You claim that distancing yourself will make her happier in the long run without you? I want to slap you…for even thinking that you're doing something for her other than hurting her. Your constant self-righteousness is laughable from where I'm standing because if you're feeling hurt from what you've put your own self through…then I'm here to tell you that other than the fact that Michiru-chan is not happy that you're acting like a complete jerk, she's also blaming herself for your actions of late. She thinks that she's done something to merit your what you're doing to her…asked too much from you during her wedding preparations and cried to me that she's more than willing to handle your attitude as long you're by her side. Forget that neither of you talk anymore! Never mind the fact that you don't even look at each other anymore! The only thing that's keeping her sanity in this entire ordeal is knowing you're always by her side…and…what does…my idiot of a daughter do?

"Like the insensitive jerk that she is…she puts it upon herself to relinquish her title of a maid of honor, gives it someone else, and becomes a best man so the ceremony wouldn't look 'stupid'."

She looked away as shameful pain shot at her from all directions, her eyes blurring just a bit due to the anger, frustration, and sadness coming in her system all at once.

"I want you…to think about your actions. I implore you to straighten things out with Michiru-chan. Until then, you will not receive the key to your office door, you will not partake in any projects, and your presence will not be welcome in the company. I want you to think about what's important versus what's supposedly important…and apologize to her and earn her good grace. Once you do all these things…you're welcome back to join me here. Until then…I would rather not have a child than know such a shameless person came out of me."

Emeralds widened in shock at her mother's own words, and as the feeling settled down, one of pure helplessness rushed into her. She couldn't help the shaking of her jaw as tears began damming their way out of her eyes. Through her blurred vision, she could see her mother walking away and out of the room and it felt as if a dull dagger was being repeatedly stabbed in her heart. But she could only sit there and wait until the dammed tears broke and she finally felt completely and utterly alone.

O-----O

She had called the two of them for a meeting tonight. All the preparations in regards to the wedding had been taken care of and now there was only the long week of excruciating wait. In one hand she wanted it to come already just to get it over it. On another, she wished the end of the week would never come. Regardless of the fact, she sat quiet and still in one of the plush sofas in the Kaioh Estate, awaiting the arrival of both of her parents.

She knew they had matters left to discuss before her marriage to Jiro would officially begin, and now seemed like the perfect time to delve into them, because if not now…then when? She eyed her purse and thought about the paper folded neatly inside.

She sighed.

She wished above all things that they would be understanding…because she had been the perfect daughter…regardless if she had done what seemed like unladylike things to their eyes. And as the thoughts of what kind of "unladylike" things they were, Haruka had once again become the center of her mind.

The ring she had asked to be made was promised to her tomorrow. She wondered how she'd be able to give it to the blonde. What if she was too busy? What if she could care less for such trinkets? Recently it had seemed that the tomboy had stopped caring for her at all. She stopped hoping for her phone calls that would never come and stopped dreaming that she would take back what she said in regards to being her maid of honor. It was obvious she didn't care and didn't see the importance it brought to the violinist and if that was the case…there would be nothing she could do.

She wanted some distance…For some reason or another, she wanted distance. And she would give it to her. It's the least she could do…She had been selfishly throwing her every which way during her wedding preparations and it had absolutely nothing to do with the blonde. Now that she thought about it, it surprised her that it took this long for Haruka to crawl back into her diminutive shell.

Maybe she was bored…Bored of this planning, bored of her parents…bored of her.

Maybe…she should just mail her the gift. She didn't want to intrude…Haruka was, no doubt, too busy to schedule a meeting with her. And this little thought should've hurt her more than the little spiking throbs in her heart…but she sussed that she was too used to this painful feeling now to merit any kind of real heartache. Her body was probably saving that for the day Haruka would say so out loud that she was tired of her…

She sighed again.

Mailing it sounded like a good option…It was impersonal and the blonde could open it whenever she had the time to…Or…she smiled. The beach house seemed like the perfect place to put it in…with a letter of appreciation for all that she's done. Nodding finally to herself, she breathed in loudly to ready herself for the arrival of her parents that would come soon.

Another fifteen minutes passed and they finally arrived, looking at her with expectant smiling, albeit tired faces. The two of them sat down together in the sofa before her and she smiled back…happy that they had started to, once again, look like a couple regardless of the fact that they've been divorced for a few months already. At least they weren't biting each other's heads off…and that was more than enough for her…for now.

"You wanted to talk with us about something Michiru-chan?" her father asked, starting the entire thing as Shina looked on worriedly.

She nodded. "It's nothing you need to worry about," she assured. "I'm not here to back off."

They looked at the floor simultaneously and she could feel the waves of guilt coming out of them.

"There are just some things I wanted to clarify between us before I properly say my, 'I do's' just so we're all in the same page," she started. "Jiro and I have spoken about this already…and he of all people knows what he's getting himself into upon marrying me. I just want all of us to be in the same page…that's all."

They nodded as she smiled up at them and looked away, the nervousness in her gut beginning to rise. She didn't really know where to start, so the beginning seemed like the most plausible and obvious place. She centered herself to bite down the anxiety suddenly overtaking her and opened her mouth.

"I met Haruka a little less than five months ago. Prior to meeting her, I've been curious about my own sexuality, but didn't test it…until I met her."

They sat silently still, eyeing her as she simply looked away, her mind going back to what she thought were better times.

"It was actually during your falling out…when you decided that you both wanted a divorce that I began seeing her. I'm not saying it was either of your fault because I think I personally wanted it to happen, but wanted a reason for it so it wouldn't seem so awkward…the rich little girl who was curious if only because her life was falling apart and didn't know what else to do so she reverted back to her natural instincts…"

She smiled sadly and looked at both of them evenly. "We were in an entirely sexual relationship for three months. Friends…with benefits. It was our contract. She knew because of who I was and who surrounded me that being an open lesbian wouldn't be a good thing so everything was swept under the rug. She didn't mind it…and neither did I…because neither of us deemed it serious enough. We saw each other in the weekends and acted as if we didn't know each other in our public lives if only to relieve stress…We had sex to relieve stress…that was the gist of our relationship."

She could tell that they weren't expecting that if the only indications she had were they're completely shocked faces, widened eyes, and opened mouths. She fought a chuckle that was making its way out.

She sighed instead and looked down as the events of what had happened surged through her mind. "At first it was fine. She and I were perfectly content on staying in that same 'normal' relationship. And then…my marriage with Jiro was planned…"

Michiru bit her lip as the thoughts of that night in the galleria replayed itself in her mind. How she had hurt the blonde and realized then that her feelings for her went beyond their supposed casual relationship.

"She found out about Jiro and who he was to me soon enough and that was when we decided to end our relationship." The violinist gave a pained expression as she roughly closed her eyes and the picture of the blonde standing before her in the storeroom, with the most defeated look in her eyes bore through her retina. She opened them again, her jaw clamped and face more troubled than she wanted her parents to see. "I never truly understood the value and importance she had in my life…until she was gone. I never realized I truly loved her until the relationship was duly over. I questioned it…because how we were together seemed so…different…if we were merely just friends with benefits…But I didn't realize I was so in love…until she was gone."

She looked at both of them evenly, unashamed of the words that spilled easily from her mouth. She's been waiting for a long time to tell this to them and she wouldn't back down now. She was mildly surprised that they didn't look at her as disgustingly, if at all from what she thought they would. They just stared back at her with the same conflicted look she gave back.

"We went for a month without really contacting each other. Our 'break up' was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I delved into my work and she did with hers…and when we met up again…everything was better. I like to think that she may have missed me as much, if not more than I missed her, but…maybe that's just wishful thinking. Nonetheless, when we began to see each other again…we made a pact that we would be friends…because regardless of the fact that we were in a relationship that was so much more, it was each other that we looked forward to more than doing the deed.

"We've been friends since…"

The aqua haired woman looked away from their gazes as her jaw clamped up in a kind of silent anger.

"I can't stand it…that both of you can't look pass who you think you know her as and just see her. It pains me…that you look at her as if she's a disgusting creature who you wouldn't give a second thought of if it weren't for me and the interest of this wedding. I can see how you look at her…I know that you've been throwing everything in your arsenal to make her go away…and I'm so sad to say that…it's working…

"Haruka hasn't been the same since this entire thing started…and although I blame myself partially for it, I'd be stupid if I didn't blame the two of you for some of it either. You've thrown so many loops and obstacles for her to go through…and I still don't understand why other than the fact that you think it's good for me that you do this…and I want to set the record straight that…it hasn't done anything, but stress me out more and…make me love her more…

"She's shown me who she truly is during this last month and I would not have made it as far as I have looking like I have without her continued presence. I won't be able to go through this marriage without her continued presence. So…don't let me choose…"

She looked up to same sapphires and grays with a resolute and serious look.

"Don't let me choose…between the two of you and Haruka…because I already know my decision concerning who I need…And in order to keep feeling…I don't need Jiro…I don't need this marriage…and, to be frank, I've stopped thinking I can rely on the two of you to understand me…and I'm not saying I don't need you…because I'll always need you…Like a child always needs her parents…but if you continue this never ending quest to test who I am…then…I don't think you'd want to know who I'll choose…because if what I've just said isn't any indication that I love Haruka more than either of you…then what I've just said is the fact of the matter."

Their eyes could only widen in shock at her words.

She shook her head and bit her bottom lip roughly, a helpless smile on her conflicted, but beautiful face.

"You've taught me the value of independence. Haruka's taught me the value of friendship and love. I've been trying to play all sides so everyone's happy…except me…and I'm more than willing to keep it up…but don't push Haruka more than you already have…because there's nothing more in this world that pushes me to my breaking point than seeing her unhappiness…And when I'm pushed that far…you'll force me to choose between you and her…and I think I've made my point perfectly clear in regards to that matter."

"You are more than willing to throw away your family for her?"

She faced her father and locked eyes with him. "For a long time now, she's felt like the only family I've known."

She could see Shinji visibly gulp as she looked at her mother who remained completely silent. Feeling it was the perfect time to finish this and knowing she's gotten her point across, she reached into her purse and took out a folded piece of paper.

They stopped looking at her if only for a minute to look at what she held in her hands. It has looked like its seen better days, the ends of the paper tattered and old and the folded area beginning to rip. She breathed in deeply and slid it across the table towards them.

"We've never truly spoken about it…and I think that was the beginning of the downfall of our family," Michiru started as all of their eyes locked on the lone piece of paper in the middle of the table. "I always tell myself to try harder for the sake of this family because I remember a time that was so much nicer than how we are now. But I learned that there's only so much I can do…and I think onee-san's been trying to show me that there are some things I just can't save…so…I'm officially giving this up…and putting it in both of your hands…because I want our family to be back together…but if that's not what either of you want…I can't do anything about it."

Tearing her eyes away from the piece of paper that's been in her possession for years now, she looked down at the ground and continued softly, "You always thought onee-san didn't leave anything behind…an indication, a confession, a reason…for what she did. The truth is…she did."

They were shocked beyond belief at what she had just uttered…far more-so now than what she had been telling them the entire time. And as silence permeated the air around them, Michiru stood up, grabbed her purse, and looked back down at the still unopened paper.

"What's written is something the two of you don't already know. She's sorry…she doesn't blame anyone…she wishes for everyone's safety…and above all happiness…She asked me to take care of you two…because she knew it would be hardest for you…and if anything, I feel like that's been the only thing that's keeping me afloat in regards to accepting this entire marriage…because I feel like I owe it to her…

"Ironic…that it would be her wishes to do so…but I don't regret it now and I never will. I'm sorry for keeping this from you…but when I received it I didn't think anyone would be ready for it and as time passed by…the more I wanted to see if this family could save itself without it…but…maybe that was wishful thinking as well.

"I love you both…but it's been a long time since this has happened and still…you both act as if nothing has. You tested onee-san's boyfriend which led her to her death…and now…you're testing Haruka…and me in the process…and I'll never yield and take my life like she had…but…as I said before…don't push things too far. I don't mind what you do to me…but I won't forgive anyone who hurts Haruka…the two of you included."

She looked passed their looks of guilt and left the room, afraid that her own resolve would soon break and she would all too soon go back to being the daughter they knew before.

O-----O

Michiru arrived at the beach house the next night a little before six in the evening. It was unusually warm inside regardless of the cold weather that's begun to rear its ugly head much sooner than the season's permitted, but she had told Satoshi to give her fifteen minutes to a half an hour nevertheless so she could stay a little longer. She was debating with herself about it at first, but she had missed the tiny home, so after a few short words with her driver, he left the premises of the beach house to drive off somewhere to wait as she stepped inside. She hadn't been able to visit it ever since the first day of the wedding planning started and it was the only place in the entirety of Japan where she could simply think and breathe. She needed to stay here and gather her thoughts…if only for a half an hour.

After depositing her shoes by the door and putting on a pair of green slippers, she made her way upstairs, turning on the lights to the familiar bedroom and breathing in the scent she had missed for weeks. She stood by the doorway for a moment, her senses taking in everything she was seeing, feeling, and smelling and in that small timeframe missed the blonde so much more than she's had since their last true conversation.

She sighed loudly and frowned, her throat feeling lumpy again and stepped in the warm room, dropped her purse on the bed and sat at the foot of it.

She remained there silently, looking at everything and nothing at the same time and felt her heart grow heavier and heavier by the second.

Her parents had not called her back since her reveal to them last night. It's not that she expected them to. She didn't…but ever since her tell-all, she had never felt lonelier than the day that had just passed her by. It felt as if no one was by her side. She doesn't regret a single thing she told them…but she wished she and Haruka were at least still on talking terms so she could talk to someone about it. Unfortunately she knew calling her was out of the question. It's been out of the question for days on end now… And she didn't want to impose on Yoshiko anymore…even though the older woman was the one to call her up for a lunch meeting only a couple days back.

She swallowed hard and fell on her side, her head missing the pillow as she curled into a fetal position. Placing her arm under her head as a makeshift pillow, she sighed loudly and passively stared at the closed closet door in her view.

With how things were going between her and Haruka, she was just waiting for the day when the blonde would say so out loud to go away already. And even after this whole time, she was confused as to why it truly happened. She saw the definite change in her after her father joined them for the planning and sussed that that was the most obvious reason. She wished she could do something about it though…Why Haruka had to push her away was a mystery, but…maybe…the tomboy just needed a reason to get rid of her.

She wasn't sure…she wasn't sure about a lot of things anymore in regards to her. She just knew that she loves her and she wishes she'd let her in…if only for a couple minutes so they can talk about whatever's on her mind.

She was tired all of the sudden…and her eyelids were going to close sooner if not later. It was Friday and there was a chance Haruka could come in her beach house today and she didn't want to be here if she wasn't invited. Looking at the clock that read just fifteen after six, she knew it was still much too early for the young CEO to dismiss herself from her company, but she had overstayed her welcome anyway. Getting up, she reached into her purse and took out the nicely wrapped small box. She smiled.

She adored how it looked this morning when she picked it up from the jeweler and hoped Haruka would like it as well. She didn't see her wear a lot of things, but she was at least hoping she'd like it enough not to…sell it back…or something…although it was pricey enough and cost her a fraction of her recent album sales.

She took out the letter as well and looked at the white envelope forlornly. She had written everything and nothing at the same time…and she wished she could say all that she felt, but…a letter was impersonal and with how they were to one another…it seemed almost impossible to say much of anything so she did best with what she could and it turned out to be a basic thank you letter.

Picking the items up, she sat them on the lamp table near the bed, the letter leaning against the lamp in an upright position and the gift in front of it. Turning around she gave one more sad look at the room before sighing out loud and begrudgingly making her way out…just in time for her to hear the front door open and close.

She panicked. She didn't know why…because Haruka had made it a point to tell her that, that beach house was rightfully theirs…but she panicked. And she could only stay rooted at her spot, knowing that the blonde had probably noticed her shoes in the doorway as well as the missing pair of slippers. She felt like an intruder all of the sudden and as soft footsteps became louder and louder as each second passed, she could only bite her bottom lip and look up at the door as it swung open and revealed the woman she's been missing with all her heart within the last week.

Emeralds widened at the sight of her and she couldn't help the apologetic smile that came all too automatically in her features.

She bowed in greeting…and then realized how weird that must've looked like because it made them seem unfamiliar with one another.

Licking her too suddenly dry lips, her apologetic smile widened and her fingers began to twist with one another uncomfortably.

"I…I'm sorry, Haruka. I didn't realize you were coming here today…I should've, but…it seemed early still…and I thought you were at work so…" She gulped. She knew she was babbling, but she couldn't help it all of the sudden…because if she was to stop, nothing, but uncomfortable silence would engulf them…and she would rather look like a babbling idiot than have painful silence surround them again. "I…should've called. I…I'm sorry for not thinking of it first. I just—

"It's fine…"

The violinist looked away conflicted and remembered, again, why she was there in the first place.

Looking back at the wrapped gift, she frowned and explained, "I just came to drop something off for you…I…I know how stressful these past couple weeks have been for you and…I didn't want you to think that I didn't appreciate all that you've done for me and my family."

"You didn't have to…"

She smiled, but it fell again too quickly, as her frown deepened in discomfort. Her stomach was doing weird flip flops and her throat was parched. She was nervous around Haruka…it was laughable. But she couldn't dispel the feeling even if she wanted to…because the tomboy may just as well have been a person she was secretly admiring within this past month…they certainly hadn't felt like friends in a while.

She shook her head. "I…did…" she said softly as a wry smile flitted over her beautiful features. "It's up to you to do what you want to do with it…I guess we can see it as a sort of compensation for time lost. I know how much your company's been needing your attention and, selfishly, I overlooked it…so…if you don't like it or have no use for such trinkets, selling it back shouldn't be much of a problem…or…you can give it back to me and I'll return it and just…give you the amount…and if that's not enough…"

She trailed off, not liking where she was going with the conversation, but needing to throw it out there just so the young CEO would know that whatever she did with the present was alright with her…it was hers anyway…

She looked down helplessly at the ground and felt her heart flare out in pain.

"What is it?"

She shook her head at the soft and quiet question.

"Just…jewelry…" She looked up at conflicted emeralds and her frown deepened in apology. "I really am sorry for intruding like this. I meant to come in and go out…and I knew…I should've just mailed it so I wouldn't impose, but—

"You never impose…Stop saying that you do…you never impose…"

She wiped the accumulation of tears that had began to dam in her eyes, not wanting the blonde to see her cry. "Recently it's felt like I have…I just didn't want to chance it with you…" She gulped, feeling it get harder and harder the more she stayed in the room. "Satoshi-san's probably outside waiting for me. I've overstayed my welcome and—

"Please stay."

Pleading emeralds and widened sapphires locked as Haruka's grip on the doorway visibly strengthened.

"I'm making okayu for dinner," she said softly, her troubled gaze flittering away. "If you haven't eaten already and it's to your liking…I'd like it if you stayed."

She could only nod. "Let me call up Satoshi-san and tell him."

"I'll take you home. Tell him to just go home and rest up for the rest of the evening."

"Are you sure? I don't want—

"Don't say it again…please…you're not imposing. You never have."

Her sad frown deepened before she nodded, taking out her cell phone from her purse as she did so.

"I'll be downstairs. Join me anytime. I haven't started cooking yet."

"I'll be there in a couple minutes."

A shadow of a smile drifted over the tomboy's handsome face before conflict took it over again. Sooner than later, she turned around and headed back downstairs.

O-----O

She was torn between running herself into a brick wall or into Michiru's warm, inviting arms…Sighing, she stirred the pot full of hot water and rice and once again paid attention to the negi she was slicing into small pieces.

She'd been in the beach house since her mother had decidedly kicked her out of the company she's been running single handedly for three years. At first she was bitter…Bitter at her mother who cared too much and then at herself for her all too useless pride. Then as the days passed on at such a slow rate, she began to feel the all too familiar feeling of loneliness.

Her basic day consisted of lying on her bed and thinking about what she had done wrong (a lot of things) and what she had done right (not so many) in regards to the wedding planning. And then the question as to whether or not she had done the right thing passed her mind regarding her decision that night she met up with Michiru's parents.

Everything was telling her that she had made the correct decision. No one would get hurt, but her…which was just fine. She was used to that anyway…But it wasn't just her in the end.

She sighed.

What exactly did that mean? She meant something to the violinist. She kind of expected that already…seeing as they were friends and that she had already said so out loud. And it was only natural that she'd be hurt if her so-called friend was avoiding her. So that was all right? She was hurt because Haruka was avoiding her…okay. She kind of wished it was more than that…but…it was time to stop acting like a jerk and be more of a…well, a friend…She's seen the damage she's caused. Michiru's been hurt far more so than should've been allowed and it was all caused by her. Enough was enough.

She sighed again.

It didn't really solve the problem with her colliding with her parents though. If anything it just masked it…

"Okayu sounds good tonight."

She took herself out of her reverie and glanced to her left where Michiru appeared. She strode passed her and into the kitchen sink to wash her hands as the tomboy nodded.

"I was out of negi and umeboshi so I went to the store to grab them," she stated and deposited the cut green vegetable in a big enough bowl.

The violinist looked at her inquiringly. "You didn't go to work today?"

She shook her head, sighing inwardly at her and her mother's broken relationship.

"Haven't been working since…Wednesday," she answered quietly.

Sapphires eyed her surprisingly. "Haven't been busy?"

"'Kaa-san kind of kicked me out…"

Michiru rounded up on her as she began the quest of cutting the umeboshi.

"She what?!"

The young CEO shrugged. "We had a dispute and she kicked me out…It's not that big of a deal—

"I need to talk to her…"

"There's nothing to talk about," Haruka muttered and rolled her eyes at the immediate response she expected. "I know what to do in order to go back…I'm just being stubborn about it…"

"Anything I can do?"

She shook her head. "It's all up to me. Don't worry yourself about it."

"If it has something to do with you, I worry Haruka…"

She looked up at Michiru who avoided her glance and began to stir up the pot.

"Get a pan ready for the salmon. We'll fry it to top the okayu along with the negi and umeboshi."

The aqua haired woman nodded and made her way familiarly through the kitchen.

"How's the planning by the way? Almost done?"

"We're done. The rest is being taken care of by Rai-san…"

"You trust her with that?"

"My parents do and if she royally messes it up, it'll be on her. I'm just there to appear and fill my end of the bargain…"

Haruka sighed. "He's not bad…"

"I think we both know that…"

"Then why can't you give him a chance?"

"I'm already giving him a chance upon marrying him Haruka. I don't know what else you and my parents want from me…"

"I'm not trying to force anything—

"You want us to have sex? Would that be considered giving him a chance?"

As the thought of Michiru and Jiro naked in one room permeated her mind, a loud, "No!" was the only thing she could get out without giving herself away. "No…" she said, quietly this time. "I'm just…I just want you to be happy…What I've been hearing during this entire ordeal is that you'll eventually have to marry him and actually going beyond liking him as a friend shouldn't—

"It won't happen…" the aqua haired woman said softly, her eyes trained evenly on the heating pan before her. "I know what everyone's trying to say. I know that it isn't a bigger step to actually give him a chance and get romantically involved with him…but the fact of the matter is I don't want to. I'm not interested in Jiro much more than I'll ever be interested in a friend. I can't even imagine making a child with him…I don't want to imagine it. I'll probably keep it from happening for as long as I can…and if that's forever, then I'll gladly do it."

It was everything she wanted to hear…and she couldn't help the helpless smile from flittering in her face.

"You never want to imagine Michiru and Jiro babies?" she asked, the teasing imminent in her tone.

"I'd rather have blondes than red heads…"

"Oh?" Haruka was confused for a second. "You never struck me as a blonde liker…"

"You and I were in a relationship for a while and you're blonde…just so you know Haruka…"

She blushed. She wasn't really thinking or counting herself… "Anymore blondes other than me?"

The aqua haired woman laughed and sighed out loud, looking at her amusingly. She shook her head. "Senshiro-kun—

"Has black hair. Dull, straight cut, boring black hair,"

Michiru laughed louder, the sound reaching pleasantly to Haruka's ears. She hadn't heard her laugh in a while…and all the blame could only be righteously put on her. She smiled.

"Yes…Senshiro-kun has black hair…"

"And…your first sexual encounter?"

"Daisuke-kun? He…reminds me of Jiro now that you mention it."

"Any blondes other than me?"

She looked at her amusedly. "You don't like being the only blonde to ever grace my life?"

"No…that's fine…" she answered sheepishly, grabbed the seasoned cut piece of salmon on the cutting board in front of her and placed it cautiously inside the pan.

The combined smell of frying fish and boiling rice filled the air between them as Haruka noticed that their sides were touching.

"If you're to have babies, what kind of attributes would you like them to have?"

She looked at Michiru for a second and breathed in deeply in thought at the question. Separating from her, she leaned over to the other side of the kitchen once more to grab the last piece of salmon and deposited it on the pan as well.

After washing her hands, she made her way back beside the violinist's standing form and grabbed a pair of tongs, her attention on the hot pan before the two of them.

"I don't think I'd ever need to worry about babies Michiru…"

"Would you like any given the chance?"

"Depends on who I marry I suppose…"

"Okay…Let's say you marry the love of your life. Would you like babies then?"

"Yeah…"

"Alright then, what would you like them to look like?"

You…

Michiru looked up at her as she could only remain silent.

"Haruka…play with me…"

She laughed…and then sighed.

"Dunno about looks, but I guess I'd like a girl and a boy…" she stated as she looked up in the air thoughtfully. "So it wouldn't be so lonely for either of them. They'll always have someone to play with…"

The violinist looked down and smiled. "Which one would you like first?"

"Girl…Boys tend to have a power trip when they get born first."

"But wouldn't you rather have the older brother being protective of his younger sister?"

"Nah…if anyone messes with my little girl, I'd take care of it personally."

Michiru laughed as Haruka's determined frown turned into a smile.

"I'd imagine you being the kind of 'father figure' that would have the cutest daughter in the neighborhood, but no one wants to go out with her because they'll have to go through you first."

The blonde nodded vigorously in agreement and laughed. "Oh…you don't know my number one rule if I ever have a daughter?"

The aqua haired woman looked at her questioningly as her smile widened.

"No dating until after you're married?"

"Haruka!"

"What? It's…it's a pretty good rule…in my opinion…" she muttered, chuckling at the look of disbelief in the violinist's face.

"Alright…and…if she turns out to be just like you?"

"Handsome? Smart?"

She received a playful smack in the arm.

"Interested in women…" Michiru corrected, rolling her eyes as she did so.

"Oh…well that completely changes everything…"

"How so?"

"She won't get pregnant!"

"Haruka!"

"What? It's true though! There's no way in hell she can get an 'accident' with another girl so you know what? If sex feels that great…then god speed…just be more monogamous than I was when I was your age…"

The violinist laughed. "You're impossible…And what about your boy?"

"Don't get anyone pregnant and I'll be lenient…"

"Haruka…is them getting pregnant or getting someone else pregnant first and foremost in your mind?"

"Yes…definitely…"

She sighed. "I think your salmon's getting burned…"

The tomboy laughed and turned both pieces of frying fish over. "And you?"

"My babies?"

"With Jiro?"

"Don't push it Haruka…"

"Fine…babies in general."

Michiru chuckled and then gave a thoughtful look. "I think…it would depend on me and my partner…as to how they'll turn out."

"Okay…pick one of your old flames then…"

"Want to have babies with me?"

Haruka's heart stopped for a second as her emeralds locked with amused sapphires. Slapping herself out of a fantasy-like reverie, she looked back at the fish and shrugged noncommittally, her smile still glued funnily on her face.

"Alright…let's have babies together then…"

Michiru laughed and leaned her head softly on her left arm. "Okay…well with the kind of upbringing you'll have—

"Can I be the cool parent?"

"Haruka…"

"Michiru, you can't be the cool parent. You…you definitely would play the part of the strict parent better…"

"Says who I can't be the cool parent?"

"Alright…what do you like to do for fun?" the blonde asked without really asking. "Painting, swimming, and playing the violin. Snorefest…Me? I like to race cars in my spare time. I take martial arts, kendo, sports…Just one of my hobbies is so much cooler than all of your hobbies combined!"

"Uncalled for Haruka…"

"Just being truthful…" the tomboy said with a smirk and took the fish out of the pan and placed them in an empty plate while the violinist turned the stove off.

"We just have to wait for the rice to cook properly?"

Haruka nodded. "It doesn't require a lot of attention as long as the stove's not on so high. We can wait in the living room in the meantime."

The aqua haired woman agreed and after placing all the dirty items in the sink, the two of them made their way to the living room and sat beside one another in one of the loveseats, Michiru facing her and her leaning her back comfortably on the arm rest.

"Alright…so…I'm the cool parent and you're the strict one," the blonde continued with her tongue sticking out.

The violinist gave an exasperated smile. "Alright. You wanted girl and boy?"

"Yeah…what do you want though?"

"Can we have more?"

The young CEO laughed at their overall topic of conversation. "Michiru…I don't think we can even have one…"

The aqua haired woman pouted cutely. "That's too bad. I think we'd have adorable babies."

Haruka blushed, looked down and smiled softly as soft hands caressed her cheek. Looking up and locking eyes with sapphires, her smile widened as she stated, "Regardless of the fact…I think you'd make an excellent mother."

And it was as if they were never apart. As if the blonde had never acted farther away and the past week hasn't been…hellish…to say the least. Michiru leaned towards her and buried her face in the familiar nook in her neck, warm hands encompassing her waist as hers embraced the smaller woman's shoulders, breathing and taking in everything that she's missed since the last she's truly felt her.

She closed her eyes and tightened her hold, relishing the way the violinist's body fit perfectly with hers, the way she smelled and felt…And the guilt, sadness, and loneliness that's been her only friends within the past several days burst out of her and she couldn't, for the life of her, stop the frustrated tears that were dying to come out. Her heart hurt…and it was her fault. She had hurt Michiru…and it was her fault. She had just wasted a week that they could've cherished before the arrival of the wedding…and because of her rash and stupid decision that affected the violinist much more than she thought it would, she had made them grow farther and farther apart.

"I'm sorry, Michiru."

The smaller woman must've felt her body begin shaking as her hold grew tighter and her head delved deeper into her shoulder so she couldn't see the tears that were fighting their way out.

"Haruka…"

"I'm so sorry…"

She sounded so broken, but she didn't care anymore. She just didn't want to see her so weak…But sooner than she had hoped she felt the aqua haired woman, the love of her life, began pulling away and she didn't want her to…but Michiru did nonetheless, grabbed a hold of her cheeks, and forced their eyes to lock, her own emeralds darting away in shame and guilt as her tears continued to fall traitorously. Her gaze fell and stayed on her own dress shirt, not wanting to see the question and sadness reverberating out of the violinist's sapphire eyes.

"Haruka…"

She gulped as soft fingers reached over and wiped more incoming tears away.

"Why did you do it? What was the point in it?"

"I…I don't know…" she answered, irritated at herself. "It…" She stopped and gulped…and shook her head. "It wasn't…I didn't mean to hurt you." She locked eyes with asking sapphires and her frown deepened. "I…had every intention of making your life…so much better…"

"Without you?"

"Your life would be best if—

"It hasn't dawned on you yet that a lot if not most of what I want in my life has something to do with you?"

"What can I give you Michiru? I…" She scratched her head in frustration and bit her bottom lip. "I…fight with your parents endlessly. I don't get along with anyone you love. I'm…your friend that…strongly believes that you would be so much better…if not for my continued presence."

Michiru shook her head vigorously in disagreement. "Why…would you think that?"

"What do I give you?"

"You give me peace of mind!" she cried as if it was the obvious. "You're…the shoulder I can cry on, the person I can lean on, you make me laugh, you're…the friend…that I wish was more."

What?

Her insides shook roughly as the violinist's eyes drifted away from her widened orbs and began to glaze in melancholy and confusion.

"I don't know how you can think you mean nothing to me…when you mean the world," Michiru stated softly, her hands balling on her lap. "I don't need anyone else…but you…so please…don't ask me to lean on Jiro anymore. He's…not you. It's not that I won't lean on him…I can't. I don't trust anyone…except you."

She locked eyes with the wide eyed tomboy and smiled sadly. "I know…our contract when we were together was for everything to be black and white…and I'm not really sure when all the gray areas started coming…But I remember feeling miserable after our so-called break up and diving head first in my work just so I could think of you and not think of you all at the same time.

"You mean everything to me Haruka…You have for some time now. That's why it hurts whenever you push me away. I never want to part from you, but recently, it's felt as if you don't want me anymore…not even as a friend…and I hate that I can't do anything, but wait until you say so out loud—

"I'm never going to say that out loud."

The blonde wanted to punch herself, but instead grabbed a hold of the smaller woman's waist and pulled her to her lap, surprising the violinist a little and making her grip her shoulder from her sudden action.

She wasn't sure what to say…she had never been good with words in the first place. But…Michiru loves her…right? That's…that's what she's been saying? She needs her…which means…she…

Her head was spinning…partially due to her blondeness and the other due to the fact that everything she's believed within the last few months was just shot down.

She looked up at sapphires that looked down at her worriedly.

"Are you alright? I'm sorry if I said anything to offend you or—

"You love me?"

It was a dumb question, but she couldn't afford not being tactless this time around. She needed to be sure.

She felt the smaller woman gulp before nodding, albeit slowly.

"Nh, I love you. I have for some time," she answered softly, uncertainty in her voice.

She smiled…first in relief and then it was replaced by one that was a little goofier.

"Since when?'

She didn't know why she was still asking questions. Her brain was even asking why she was still asking questions…because her body definitely left the coop a long time ago…

Michiru gave a cute and thoughtful look before answering, "Probably…when we were still together…I just didn't realize it until after we parted."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Haruka asked in mild exasperation.

"I don't know!" the violinist cried, sounding harassed. "You…I knew…you didn't…you don't feel the same way—

"I've loved you…for a long time now."

Sapphires widened at her bold words and she looked up at her as if what she had just said was the most obvious thing in the world.

The tomboy shrugged for good measure. "You…you're the model…rich girl. You wouldn't like someone like me. That's my excuse for not telling you a long time ago. What's yours?"

The small woman gave her an indignant look. "Because you're the model…playboy. You don't like long term relationships. You don't like being tied down by—

"You want to tie me down?"

"Haruka!"

"What?! That was an invitation!"

She sighed exasperatedly and got off the widely smiling blonde. Walking away to probably check on the rice, Haruka got up as well and intercepted her, swept her arms around her waist, and dipped her face halfway to the smaller woman's, wide sapphires looking beautifully up at her.

She smiled, that handsomely infuriating smile of hers and waited until Michiru's arms rose up to her neck and pulled her down, their lips meeting for the first time in well over two months since they stopped being friends with benefits.

AN: So…they're together…but I bet you all STILL want to kill me hahahahahhahaha. Oh crap…I am sooo evil. /sigh…even my GF wasn't content with that ending. XDDDDD Well…next update could only get sweeter right? They're gonna spend their last week being together before Michiru goes off and marries Jiro so…yeah…next update should be fluffiful. Hahahahaha omg…I am so amused right now, none of you even know. But hey…this has got to be the longest chapter yet…and it's only so long because I wanted them to finally get together on my bday. Yay happy bday to me. Happy bday to me. Happy bday dear meeeeee. -.- happy bday to me. XD A year since HP ended and I'm glad I can see the difference in my writing. If there's anything I can ask for, I already have it :) Hope everyone had a great Halloween and be safe for…all saint's day -.- haha. Oh…okayu…is like congee…just so you guys know…and this chappy had…Michiru kinda emancipating herself and Haruka kinda getting disowned. I think that's hilarious. See you guys next time. On one last note, ffn sux because of their new gay layout. I can't find ANYTHING…Dear ffn, don't fix anything that's not broken. Kthnx.

Black Caballiere: Yes, Haruka can…the problem was, she absolutely majorly thought that in the end she'd be much, much happier and better afterwards. Hey, give her credit…she'll make it up to her…prolly next chap.

glowie: haha my commitment…/sigh. I started on this chapter I think last Monday…and I was hell bent on getting them together…but yeah…my gf takes the full brunt of my devotion to my writing. She understands XD Michiru against her parents…I thought that scene was pretty good…they got pwned. Michiru didn't have to throw the towel…haha. I'm still not sure what next chappy'll be about seeing as I haven't started on it yet…but…it should be nice…won't be angstsy at least…I think…

Kilohe: Nah being sad doesn't count. It's either cry or no cry to me. Hmph! XD Shina and Shinji got it coming from Michiru I suppose. Evil genius? Why thank you. Thank you very much :D Haha HH is uber easy this year…I'm not sure if they nerfed it or what but my GF my cousin and I have been three manning it just for that stupid mount to drop…it hasn't yet, but my gf wants it cuz her warr's a tauren and for some reason blizz hates taurens and won't let them ride anything -.-

Haruka-Michiru: "Her mom needs to step in and smack some sense into her." Hahahahahha…yeah…she did. Go Yoshiko! Jiro knows a lot from both sides so…we'll see exactly what he knows at the end yeah? Your cat being a satan and you not knowing how it happened even though u raised her since she was a kitten can only mean one thing. You're evil…just like me :) welcome to the club.

Mantaray: Tempting visit haha…I wouldn't call it "tempting" but yeah…haha. Prolonged angst isn't funny anymore…haha. That sounds like an oxymoron. Me? A cruel writer? NEVAH! I AM NOT! I'm just trying to make it…realistic…yeah…that's the word. Haha. I live to make my readers sadists :D

YingYangTwin1: haha dang it Haruka quit getting into the reader's nerves! You're making them hella frustrated and in turn they wanna strangle me! O.O what? I'm the one making her do this? No wai! :D Glad you liked the chappy even though it made you frustrated to an extent, but yeah. Showing trials is what makes a relationship great…they have to go through something. In this case…they have to go through a lot…but that's beside the point.

Swinging Cloud: Dear Swinging Cloud, Thanks for the comment. I live for those tiny moments when you can praise me some more. My day turned wonderful after your letter. You have a great day after this chappy as well. :D harukaze PS: Thanks for commenting on Haruka's new personality as well. She truly is my hero. Angst makes me sad too, but apparently it turns all of you rabid. Did I redeem myself this time? I'm not sure anymore…I think if anything, I've just opened the cage for more frustrations which is great in my end, but not so much in yours. :D Have a great day nonetheless.

petiyaka: haha hate's a pretty strong word, but I can take it :P You know…when people say they see the next chappy w/ no hope…that's when I go…well that's a great time to show hope then XD Hope you'll be more hopeful for the definite fluff coming.

RaginFireDesire: the word of the chapter is…FRUSTRATED. XD I think you're like…the fifth person out of the eight I've replied to so far that's said that. Grats! Angst makes everything better and worse. They'll probably talk in more detail next chapter. They'll talk about…everything that's on their minds…or hopefully that's how I'll write it. WoW has been like a drug for some time…but as long as I keep my priorities straight…like school and this…it doesn't become much of a problem. I actually have my gf begging me to come on more often than not. I think I'm just waiting for the xpac to come out and then I'll be gone for like two months w/o updating and you guys'll hate me forever. Haha.

LaCazadora: Yeah, she actually states how tired she is in this chappy. Poor Michiru indeed.

wolvesorrow: evil author ty for the comment, appreciate it. Haruka cracked this chappy…it took getting disowned by her mother to make her see the light (Go Yoshiko!). She went for the savagery technique. It worked.

shin: angst equals painful and that's why I make it painful? I'm not sure. Hahahaha…yeah…my death kinda makes this story stop…but you know…you can…create an ending…if you'd like. That can work out. You can join forces with all the reviewers that wanna strangle me and just…do the ending. So you can kill me and still have an ending. Sounds like a good idea. She came to her senses, just as you asked and next week will definitely have a…yeah…scene…haha. Haven't written one of those in a while, but I'm pretty sure they both miss it and I am gunning for "realistic" here so…Everything's fine in school though, thanks for asking.

t.: She actually voices it out to them this chappy…so I hope you liked that scene. You know…funny scenes are so easy for me to type. Angst scenes…not so much. I have to think about what to write, stop for a second to feel how I feel about it and then try to use that as a backdrop to what they might be feeling and…it's just a lot of work…angst…but comedy is sooo easy. That whole having kids talk that H&M had at the end of the chappy was funny for me, but at the same time easy…while the talk after that when it turned more serious became harder. I guess I just have to evolve more as a writer…get used to it or something. Hanako? You shouldn't hate her…I…at first I was going to make her and Michiru be pretty good friends…but Michiru didn't want to. Her attitude was basically if you're not Haruka I don't want to talk to you…so that plot kinda sunk so…yeah…don't worry about her. She's an OC who's there, but not. Haha. Not the right time? Hmm…well my alter ego writing it says it is, so I guess it is xD

Haruka Akira: Haha…stay up and got distracted from your studies? Zomg…leave this to the backburner and STUDY FIRST! Hmm…the chapter is normal I suppose. I aim for at least 7k per chap and last chap was a bit more than 9. Usually it's 10k or more, but yeah. I think it's 'cuz the scenes weren't so many. This one's over 16k…so…hopefully it at least feels longer. Haha, love how everyone liked the spar scene though…cuz it was so…out there. Like…a break from all the angst and well, I guess it was a good idea to put in XD. I think I needed it as much as everyone else to tell you the truth. The angst is…killer… Haruka didn't see her cry…her seats SUCKED…although Jiro did tell her and well…she did something about it. Haha…Hanako throwing everyone for a loop?? I didn't mean for her to be all up on Haruka…just that she was nosy cuz that's going to be her future job. And then…comes your…is that a dream? I'm not even sure…but…ugh…Natsuki is sooo cute…and Shizuru is just soooo hot…(her Kyoto-ben kills me EVERY SINGLE TIME)…and isn't Natsuki's story in Mai Hime just the saddest thing ever? It's a good thing Shizuru went all evil alter ego on everyone and just made pools of endless blood. Awesome. Your formal suit? Uhh…haha…you'd think I know these things…but I just sound knowledgeable…to be honest. Well you know…I'm glad their happy smiles will come next chappy so you can kinda ready yourself with that. There was some smiles here, so sorry if that took the wind out of your sails. My gf took back her Wii, I want to get the new Sims, and my family's waiting til Black Friday for a new TV just because we got a PS3…funny… Dear Haruka Akira: (I seem to be answering in letter fashions a lot more recently) I will write a happy ending. I have the right plot twist in my head to create that happy ending. It'll be so sickeningly sweet that it'll make you hope you never asked for it. Flying from Sydney to Seattle sounds long…probably a day. Don't spend money to come see me and pay the people you want in the US to eggnog my house instead…it sounds more viable. Unless you want to meet my cool, albeit evil alter ego self in person and see how much of a wimp she actually is. harukaze. PS: go study damn it.

Volchise: well hello to you too! XD I'm glad you're enjoying it as much as everyone else is.

AlterEgoErin: hahaha oh come on! Everyone knew they had to break up somehow…don't' strangle me so early in the game. That was like…what? Chapter…seven? Hold on…imma check…Yeah! That was seven! If you strangled me then…you wouldn't be able to have 13 extra chapters…XD Yes…I like torturing…ish fun :D Yeah…that was so uninteractiony right? Well this chappy was kinda the same in that aspect, but the ending has that silver lining I've been talking about that everyone's forgotten I think. I agree though…they're so much better when they're together…they're just stuck in miserable cycles when they're not…emo trippers…

Vanessa Riverton: yep Haruka can be a jerk. She'll make up for it…she promises. Michiru'll make her if anything.

Tigon ookami: haha my GF is the best woman in the world and understands when I just want to write so she gives it to me…it's no worries…as for mid-terms…gah…GAH…it's over…I'm happy XD I do need a vacation. I guess I'll hop to it after the story haha. I think we all see a bit of ourselves with what Haruka's blatantly showing right now and that's why we want to strangle her and cry on her at the same time haha. Just let out that reviewer steam, dun worry. It makes me laugh more than anything. Hmm…Shina and Shinji's personality? I'm not sure…to tell you the truth I just make it up as I go along. A lot of their personalities are based on how I write them at firs though cuz I'm not even sure how most of my OC's will act…it all depends on how Haruka and Michiru react towards them in regards to the story. I dunno how I write it that way…but that's how it is. Haha, falling over dead from writing…hmm…I can't say it'll never happen, but if it does, I'm glad I died doing something I love haha.

philk: I was seriously contemplating on having Haruka jump Michiru in that parking lot…but my other side went no…stupid…not yet. So…I didn't…haha. As for Michiru being the one that should've done it…yeah you're right…she should've. Haruka was a big jerk…haha.

Galinda Thropp: I'm sorry all my characters are stupid and made you want to go on a rampage XD Michiru's parents won't go away, but they got a telling off in this chappy so hopefully that's enough to sustain your rage for now. Yeah I completely agree w/ self control though XD I think I agree with you about not being where I am now w/ my Gf if I had more self control…stupid self control…Haruka will agree with you next chappy and Michiru had stopped becoming a doormat…at least to her parents. In regards to Haruka's wish…well…it'll get better.

Chumb Wumba: Haha that silver lining is at the end of this one. I'm sorry it took so long for it to shine through from the dark clouds. The wrath of the other reviewers makes me laugh more than anything. Michiru will never give up on Haruka…NEVER! You have a very good point on Hanako. At first…I thought…hmm…let's make one to be Michiru's new best friend…at least from Haruka's POV…but of course that didn't work. To tell you the truth, I think I would've scrapped the idea if I didn't write it and publish it already…but since I did…and everyone knows Hanako now…I can't so…consider it a flub I made. The story won't go longer than several chappies and as an OC, she's not worth it anymore to develop so there goes that boat. Haha making people cry…I sound like a bully. How I laugh afterwards makes it even more of a fact. Glad you like accurate depictions cuz they take too much time to research and only go into the story in a paragraph or worse yet, a sentence. Haha. Hmm…it's gonna be hectic if I get more new video games…I think I'll probably save it til I get tired of wrath…which is like…next year when there'll be a PS4…haha. I was better with time management this week…hopefully I can ride the wave similarly with the next one.

Love is simply Eternal: /Blush. Well thank you for the comments. I'm glad you've enjoyed the story so far. There's nothing like another author meaning up to being inspired by another so haha…I don't want to sound at all like an ungrateful jerk, but at the same time arrogance is unbefitting as well. Don't wanna cross the lines so I guess I'm stuck at being humble. Sometimes I feel like my details are too much. I've read stories that have had too much detail and it's good…but there are times when I question myself as to whether or not I'm delving far into something I just shouldn't focus on. It eats me up in the end and I want more specificity so pfft…there goes that idea. Err…reading my other works? DX haha…I'm not particularly proud of AHW (my published failure) and well HP is cool…I liked it back when I started writing it, but recently, I've read it over and I just see too many mistakes that…I want to definitely go back and correct A LOT of it. Grades are just peachy and thank you for taking the time to review. I appreciate a new face as much as I welcome familiar ones.

Nekomi Kaze: haha you're too sensitive!! Don't cry anymore!! XD But yeah…Haruka and Michiru needs a patching up…and that's what they did…although it felt hella short XD thanks for the comments on characterizations. I'm glad it was up to par. PS: ZOMG!!! OH-CHAN IS THE BEST! XD His voice is hella good compared to a lot of the other Johnny's and well…he can dance pretty damn well too. My sister showed me a vid of his Top Secret performance like…a few years back…and the first time I saw Arashi I was just like ngeh…whatever…but after that perf…I was just sooo taken…and now…well…I'm Arashified XD I love how all of them have different personalities and they're just really, really cool in general. Did you see Maou by the way? I liked the drama…Oh-chan did extremely well, but I expected it…seeing as acting for a drama seems easier in comparison to stage plays. You can't start over if you mess up in butai…haha.

Akira-kun: haha I'm sorry if she was way overboard in the dense department. Yeah, Michiru's getting the full brunt of it…Haruka you jerk! It's fine, no one blames you. Everyone blames me…and I laugh so it's all good in the end. Haha…I think I might get Sims for my bday…but the xpac for Wow's coming out and tch…I need to play that before anything else…Oh well, guess we'll see. Glad you liked the chapter as well as the length. This one's a little longer and I hope bearable.

Thepillows93: Haha if anything, Haruka definitely has resolve. It broke this chappy, but we all would've broken much sooner and we can all admit to that easily. Haha her plan is definitely flawed. She'll have a better one for next chappy…it doesn't involve angst either…good stuff. As the author…I guess it's my job. XD

krugern: haha yeah, Shina and Shinji are pretty accepting now…finally. H&M still don't know this, but they will in due time. The spar scene was awesome to write. I love smacking my OC's around. Yeah, Haruka's replacement sucks…XD She didn't do a good enough job and well, Michiru was just too damn sad to think of anything other than Haruka anyway, so it was a lose-lose situation regardless of how I would've written it. Next chapter is here and I hope you enjoy it as well.

Pyunji: :D thank you for the comments. Haruka has gotten rid of that resolve that's done nothing, but hurt everyone including herself and is now in the process of making things all better…at least that's what my mind's saying.