Chapter 23: Tying Some Loose Ends
Her penthouse was being overrun by a ton of strangers, and all she could do was lean against one of the wide creamy walls, and watch it all happen. In the middle of the living room, attentive sapphires looked up at her in amusement as she fought the huge exasperated sigh that wanted to come out of her mouth.
It was told as quickly and as suddenly to Michiru and her that this day was the beginning of "test" week. They had woken up at the shrill insistence of Michiru's crying phone at daybreak and an hour later, her parents, the wedding planner, Jiro, his sister, and the alterationists at the bridal shop they visited less than a week back were knocking at her door. She had let them all in, a little more hesitant than she wanted them to see, but she did so anyway.
Now with the clock reading that it's almost lunch time, she could only watch some more as the beauticians, who appeared a half an hour after the alterationists, flocked around the violinist's still form in the middle of her living room.
All the women, including the elder female Kaioh, were getting fitted into their dresses and sooner than later, it would be her turn too.
She sighed outwardly.
"Well said," Shinji grunted beside her as he swept his hand through his short wavy hair.
He and Jiro had accompanied her in taking it upon themselves to move the hell out of the way as everyone, at the orders of a yelling Keiko, flocked whichever way around her penthouse.
"It's almost lunch time," she stated off handedly, grabbing the attention of the two men at each of her sides.
"I'll call someone up to grab us lunch. Least I could do for terrorizing your home with no more than a phone call's warning," Michiru's father offered good naturedly, at which she just shook her head.
"There's a lot of food…it just needs to be cooked. You two want to help me?" She didn't really know what she was asking, but she had started feeling antsy at doing nothing, but watch people get busy since she woke up and wanted nothing more than to busy herself as well.
Both men looked at her uneasily as the question spilled from her mouth. She rolled her eyes at Jiro.
"Stop acting like a brat," she grunted and began moving to her kitchen. "Come on. You can help me."
"I would rather have Oji-san order take out actually…"
"You would. Come on," she repeated over her shoulder.
To her surprise, Shinji had followed her much sooner than Jiro had and a half a minute later, all of them stood in her large kitchen, the open floor plan allowing the blonde to keep an eye on the activity flourishing in her living room.
"How's Kaioh-san by the way?" she asked as the two men put it into themselves to lean into the kitchen's island this time. She rummaged through the refrigerator in the meanwhile.
The elder male Kaioh groaned outwardly at her question. "Better…He'll be dismissed either today or tomorrow and insisted I didn't stay to see what would happen to him and mind the wedding more…"
Haruka made a small sound of understanding as she took some thawed chicken out.
"You're really sure…that you want to go through with this?"
She stood up from her squatting position and looked deeply into sapphire eyes…so alike the ones she's been so accustomed to seeing sparkle back at her.
She could only smile softly and nod. "I think…take out…is a better idea after all…"
Shinji looked at her confusedly for a moment, probably because of her response, or lack thereof.
She sighed outwardly when they only resumed their staring contest. "If you were in my shoes Kaioh-san, would you want to go through this?"
"No," he answered quickly. "I think…I would've given up too long ago."
The tomboy gave a lopsided smile. "When you learn that the person you're fighting for is every bit worth it…I think it's easier to succumb to situations than flat out give up…And Michiru…is the only person in the world that's more than worth the fight."
They all took that time to glance at the violinist who was now sitting down and was in the process of having her hair done. She could probably feel their stares at her because she looked up to them, almost automatically, giving them all an asking look.
"You look beautiful Michi-chan," Shinji stated off handedly, at which she could only give an exasperated smile to.
"So…" Haruka continued. "Where did you want to order take out? Jiro-kun and I could grab it or something."
They all turned back to one another as the elder male Kaioh looked at her in amusement.
"You really don't like to stay still do you?"
"In situations where I see a ton of people not staying still, of course not…"
He gave a small bark of laughter and nodded. "But I do believe they might call us down for our turn soon…so I'll get my chauffeur to grab us something instead."
The tomboy bit down a sigh at the progression of her day, but nevertheless nodded. She liked being able to talk casually and civilly to the elder male Kaioh…it didn't feel as if she was stepping on egg shells around him.
He deviated from her and Jiro for a moment, causing both of them to step back into the living room and occupy one of the sofas there as he telephoned someone about lunch.
She was back to not doing anything and once again, the thought and inactivity irked her.
"So…what does 'test' week entail?" she asked, wanting to have an overview of the crappy week she's about to endure.
Jiro leaned into the sofa as soon as she did and answered, "Just as it entails…we're going to test…everything, ending with the rehearsal dinner on Saturday."
"Thought you guys got through this already?" she grunted.
The red haired man laughed in amusement. "No, we got it all ready for these next couple of days. It'll be fine…just some loose ends to tie up before the big show…"
She sighed outwardly and looked at him uneasily. "Will…you two…"
She stopped mid-sentence, causing him to look at her funnily.
Scratching her head and brushing her hair automatically soon after, her attention fell on the aqua haired woman once again, her thoughts creating little images her brain shouldn't have been thinking.
"Will we what?" the onyx eyed man asked, following her gaze to Michiru who looked back at her from across the room.
"In the ceremony…you're going to have to kiss…right?"
Jiro coughed into his hand, an amused chuckle coming out from him more than he wanted. Emeralds dagger stared him before going back to inquiring sapphires.
"You're acting like such a high schooler!" the tall man exclaimed in mid mirth. "What's a kiss?"
"A kiss is a lot of things…" she grunted.
He sighed and patted her on the back. "If it makes you feel better, I'll…try to go for a…sincere peck on the cheek…"
"I think…a handshake…or a bow…would be more fitting actually…"
"A bow? I've…never even seen that in a wedding—
"Start a trend!"
"The marriage-isn't-important-so-get-yourself-a-mistress trend?"
"Tch…yeah!"
Jiro laughed. "You're impossible…But…seriously…are you worried about that?"
"Alright," the blonde shrugged. "Put yourself in my shoes for a second."
The red haired man smiled in amusement, but nodded in affirmation nonetheless.
"After all that Michiru and I have been through…doesn't…the kiss…not just a kiss, but the kiss in the wedding ceremony…doesn't that feel like the proverbial kick in the balls?"
The onyx eyed man laughed loudly and slapped his knee. "It's a good thing you don't have any balls then!"
"You wouldn't know, but it hurts just as much…" Haruka grunted, crossing her arms over her chest sourly and looking away.
"I am not going to ask, even though curiosity's getting the best of me…"
The young CEO sighed. "If…we leave…and come back for the wedding rehearsal…would that be okay you think?"
Onyx eyes looked at her questioningly. And then worriedly. "This whole kiss thing is really bothering you."
It was a statement more than a question and Haruka swallowed just a bit due to the nervousness she was feeling from being spotted so easily.
Jiro sighed as well. "Does Michiru know an insecure little girl hides behind your bravado?"
"One of us has to be strong right now…She can have her turn later."
The red haired man looked at her exasperatedly. "What're you worried about?"
"Nothing…never mind."
She made to get up, but he followed her as well. She was annoyed all of the sudden.
"Come on Haruka-san…let's talk."
"Nothing to talk about…"
She had made her way to the balcony, needing fresh air to wash over her permeated system. She didn't think she would feel this way so early in the game…Biting down another dejected sigh, she pulled the glass door a little more roughly than she wanted to show and stepped out, closely being followed by Jiro.
"What's wrong—?
"There's nothing wrong!" She hated that she sounded so defensive even to her own ears and was glad that the young man had closed the door before starting up on her.
Gripping her temples and leaning into the balcony, she was annoyed that even the cool wind against her face didn't alleviate the growing discomfort in the pit of her stomach.
"I won't…kiss her—
"It's not about that…" she said dejectedly and shook her head in disappointment…more to herself than anyone or anything.
Jiro could only look at her quietly.
"I hate…looking so strong…and feeling so sure of myself one day…and the next, feeling so…" The tomboy scratched her head in irritation. "And I don't even know where this insecurity stems from. She loves me. I love her. We have a mutual understanding that this is all a title…It's what I've been saying all day yesterday…And now that I'm here, getting the time to let it sink in…I don't want it at all. I feel like…a hypocrite. I spent all day yesterday getting it into her head…and I think…maybe…I was just saying so much of it just so it would get in mine…
"But it's not okay…not to me. I don't want to share any aspect of her. And I know deep down she knows this of me…and maybe we're just trying to ride it as far as we can…But our feelings…don't matter in the greater scheme of things. It's us or you…and we've been so used to playing the martyr that…it has to be us. It can't be you…or the Kaiohs. It makes sense that we're the…so-called sacrificial lamb…"
She trailed off, her mind defeated from her rambling and she could only look up into the sky and wish for some sort of divine intervention. She was never really the religious type, but…if it took praying and all that…stuff…she would give it a shot…
"You two are by far, the most amazing people I know."
She looked back down from the overcast sky and glanced at Jiro's leaning form on the balcony, his onyx eyes trained at the buildings surrounding them more than her.
"Anyone else…and this ordeal would've been over a long time ago. Anyone else and I wouldn't care as much as I do now…" The red haired man looked up at her and smiled. "To ask…to even think…that this ordeal hasn't been trying for you…would be…your so-called proverbial kick in the balls…"
Haruka smirked at her mimicked words, letting the smile slowly slide out of her visage.
"I think what's surprised everyone, the most being Oji-san and Oba-san, is your strong front. You're so intimidating to them. It's like…your words…are a godsend when Michiru hears them and at first I hated you because it seemed like you had that power over her and I didn't…but overtime…I came to realize that…it wasn't what you had over her…it's just something you both had towards one another. It's…that soul mate vibe you both have going…"
The tomboy couldn't help the amused chuckle from going out of her system this time.
"So…to be insecure…especially about the woman you truly, wholeheartedly love…getting married by a person you could care less about—
"I care about you—
"Well thank you, but let me finish…"
The red haired man smirked up at her as she dagger stared him again.
"To be insecure about that," he continued, "is normal. You're not…you're not superman Haruka-san. No one expects you to not feel this way. We consider ourselves blessed…that it was you that she fell for and not some conniving, sex hungry stranger with nothing more than cruel intentions…which…was the path we were going there for a bit…but that kind of thought process is meant to be changed anyway."
His little off handed comments amused her to no end and as she chuckled, she could feel her confidence in the situation rising out of her once more.
"I can act…to know how you feel about this marriage," Jiro stated with a crinkle of his eye. "But I'll probably just scratch the surface of it all if anything…I know though that you would give anything to be at my spot. That it'll probably feel like I'm repeatedly stabbing you time and time again and all you can do is watch. You can't even say, 'I object.' Because of circumstances…all you can do is watch. And it sucks…for me to know…that I'm behind a decision like that. After getting to know you this entire time…I would never want something like that bestowed upon you and Michiru.
"So how you feel…is wholly justifiable. You're only human," he shrugged. "It's fine to have doubt about this whole thing. You wouldn't seem as if you care about Michiru if you didn't have a bit of doubt and just happily pushed this marriage to its fruition. But…I'll push your words right back to you. It's just a title. I…if you want, I can even cut ties with her and not see her at all…"
He trailed off as she vigorously shook her head.
"But yeah…it's only a title. Never doubt that I would trade the world…for you to come stand in my spot…because you of all people, deserve to be in that pedestal with her…legalities and all of that to hell, or not. So you know…I'm behind you all the way. If this thing bears fruit…I'll do my best to not act like a husband so you wouldn't be reminded of it every time you have to see me. If…by chance…it doesn't come to pass…I would be as happy as you 'cuz it won't feel like I'm ruining people's lives for the sake of money."
They stood there in relative silence everything Jiro had just said warming her entire system. Who would've thought that they would be talking like this?
Her and Jiro…
It felt as if she had a real friend. The first in…too long of a time. Maybe never…
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" he asked her suddenly, grabbing her attention.
Onyx eyes sparkled at her amusingly as she could only give him a questioning look.
"Let's say…a month ago…do you think we would've been having a conversation like this?"
Haruka chuckled. "Guess we were thinking the same thing then…"
The red haired man laughed, his relaxed figure leaning over the balcony. "I hated you, you know that?"
"I know…"
"God…I think…I think I hated you because you could do something to her and I couldn't. Rile her up…make her smile…God I hated you."
The young CEO laughed some more.
"But I'm glad…that we got to know one another…Because I don't have any doubts now that you're here for Michiru."
Onyx and emeralds met and the former could only smile sheepishly.
"Sometimes, even I have doubts about what I want and damned anyone in the way. But…you're here for her. You'll always be here for her…And I wish I could find that in someone…Care enough to forsake anything and just…be with them. You're a pretty cool person in that aspect Haruka-san. And what's even nicer is that it goes both ways. You take care of her as much as she takes care of you…So…don't let her think everything's okay with you when it's not. I'm pretty sure Michiru knows how you feel…she's just waiting for you to talk to her about your insecurities regarding this entire thing."
Haruka smirked and pushed herself off the balcony, sighing loudly as she did so. "I hate it when you're right…"
"Yeah well, same here…so that's a mutual feeling when it comes to us too."
The tomboy laughed, pushing Jiro's shoulder roughly. The sliding door sounded, causing both of them to turn to an amused bride to be.
"Everything okay?"
The tomboy nodded. "We're just expressing what we hate about each other."
Jiro laughed and nodded as well. "I learned that she hates me being right just about as much as I hate it when she is."
"Good thing you being right is a rare gem…"
"Screw you!" the onyx eyed man exclaimed, the grin in his face the opposite of his words. "I'm going inside. It's getting cold…"
His amused chuckles trailed after him, Michiru patting his shoulder good naturedly as he passed her and went back inside Haruka's penthouse, closing the door tightly behind him as he did so.
Haruka leaned her back into the balcony and smiled handsomely at the aqua haired woman as she walked up to her and wrapped her arms around her waist.
"Are you alright?" she asked, the concern in her sapphires visible to the tomboy.
She sighed, but nodded, two contrasts that didn't alleviate the violinist's concern. Gathering the smaller woman's shoulders, and in essence, entire body, with her arms, she held her tightly and rested her forehead on her small shoulders.
"Haruka?"
"I love you."
Her words were quiet…almost defeated. And she hated that she had said it in that manner because it would only cause Michiru to worry more.
Small arms retracted from her waist and placed warmly over her cheeks, the smaller woman pulling her face towards hers. Emeralds and sapphires met and the blonde couldn't help, but lean into the remaining couple inches and kissed those lips she's already missed since this morning when she woke up with the smaller woman's body nestled perfectly with hers.
She smiled at how the violinist snaked her arms around her neck as she broke their small kiss, and leaned closer to her suggestively.
"Your parents are watching," she stated with mirth more than anything.
Michiru laughed and nodded. "Nh…and so are the beauticians…and alterationists who know you as the best man, but that's not stopping either of us…"
Haruka laughed as well, her grip around the aqua haired woman's shoulders tightening. The latter's features mirrored the worry she felt once more as their amusement died down.
"Tell me it's just a title…"
Michiru smiled, her fingers caressing the tomboy's saddened features. The coolness of the ring she wore sharply contrasted with the warmness of her cheeks and her attention was caught easily by it.
She smiled as well.
Ever since last night when she had oh so confidently stated everything she was now not so oh-so-confidently saying, the violinist had not taken the ring off. It warmed her…far more so than any words or actions from the smaller woman and she couldn't help, but place her hand over the softer ones on her, intertwining their fingers and feeling the bump the little ring made against hers.
Sapphires bore into her eyes majestically as the violinist leaned her face into hers once more and kissed her wholeheartedly. The doubts, once so fresh in the forefront of her mind, were pushed back roughly, and the only thing her entire being could do was chastise herself for even thinking differently.
This was the power this small woman had on her. As soon as a bit of her confidence in herself and in them waned, Michiru could always pick her back up and show her why she shouldn't have insecurities. She could do so without words. A simple look, a simple kiss…simple gestures were more than enough. She loved this woman in her arms more than life itself. Her feelings for her transcended this wedding, this ordeal…the title. She knew this already…but her mind and body apparently needed to be reminded.
So early in the game and she was already falling…
She sighed inwardly.
Sapphires looked at her warmly, a small, soft smile on the violinist's beautiful face.
"There's no reason for you to be strong for the both of us," the aqua haired woman said quietly. "I know to lean on you when I'm not strong enough to deal with things alone. Learn to depend on me too…I know this is as hard for you as is it is for me…probably far more so. There's no reason to keep things to yourself and think you can overcome it. I know you have the ability to…but I would love to know that you can turn to me when you're not strong enough by yourself either."
They locked eyes, the seriousness of Michiru's words raining over them. Slowly, Haruka nodded and smiled in affirmation.
O-----O
"Haruka and I need a vacation…"
Her small words stopped the chatter and overall noise in the table as her father, mother, an amused Jiro, and surprised Haruka turned to her after her sudden words.
"After…the wedding?" her mother asked.
She shook her head, the picture of the blonde's sadness and insecurity burning a picture through her retina again.
"Now…preferably tomorrow if we can get all these loose ends that I thought was dealt with, dealt with…"
She rendered the entire table speechless, but she didn't care.
"It would be quite comical though…if you did it after," Jiro stated off handedly, getting back to his lunch because the matter would probably solve itself. Michiru would get what she wanted…If the Kaiohs didn't give it to her, he would also not just sit down and take it. "Going on a honeymoon with the best man instead of the husband…"
He laughed as the tomboy narrowed her eyes at him again.
They had a good relationship. Michiru was glad they got to know one another well enough because of this entire thing. But the matter at hand still wasn't solved.
"We'll be back for the wedding. Probably Friday night for the dinner rehearsals…Other than that though, I don't see why our continued presence is necessary so…I'd like it if we were given the rest of the week… 'off'."
She knew her parents couldn't say no to her—that would be utterly ridiculous after what she's agreed to put herself through for them…not that she was counting.
"Wh…where?"
Shinji still seemed speechless, but at least he got one word out.
"We'll probably stay in Japan…in case something happens. Okinawa? We have a vacation home in Karuizawa too don't we? Where would you like to go Haruka?"
The decision already seemed set in stone and she could only smile at how lost her lover was and squeezed her thigh from underneath the table.
"Okinawa's beaches are still really warm this time of year," Jiro added and sighed. "I wish I could tag along…but that would be wrong as well as awkward…"
Michiru chuckled. The onyx eyed man's off handed comments served to make the idea that more inviting. As much as her father was apprehensive about the idea though, her mother, surprisingly enough, seemed all for it.
"Let's work hard to fit everything today so there's no questions needed during the actual day. How long do you plan to be gone for?" Shina asked not missing a beat.
Underneath the seemingly businesslike attitude though, Michiru could see the understanding there and smiled inwardly at how forthcoming she was to the idea of her and Haruka going away if only for a couple days.
"Monday tomorrow," the violinist stated, talking to herself more than anything. "So I suppose we'll be out until Thursday."
Her mother nodded, chewing the food in her mouth thoughtfully. "What we have left today are the 'men' trying on their suits, hair, and make-up…"
She trailed off as Jiro gave a shiver. "I'll have to wear make-up?" he asked, giving her an almost pleading look.
She only smiled at him and continued, "As well as a visit to the garden to explain the rest of the decorations and how it'll be set up. I suppose…Otou-sama doesn't have to know about this?"
Everyone in the table did an almost simultaneous shake of the head.
The elder female Kaioh nodded. "Good. It's decided then. Anata…any questions?" she asked turning to Shinji as she did so.
Sapphires could only look back at her in surprise before a small shake of the head and a brief, "No" accompanied it.
Both female Kaiohs gave one another a mutual show of love and respect before going back to their food. Everyone followed suit.
O-----O
"Tenoh-san, a word please?"
Haruka looked up at her in mild surprise before she nodded, looking down at the alterionists who gave her another suggestive look before sighing altogether. It was the same one that had fitted her in the bridal shop only a week back and Shina was amused to find that said woman could not get the hint.
"Excuse us, if you may?" she asked, her voice etched with a little bit of venom that even someone so dense couldn't help, but spot.
She was given that slight look of fear she usually preyed on board meetings before the alterionists gave a small bow and skittered out of the room.
"Your leagues of admirers seem endless," she said with mirth and sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the blonde's room interestedly.
Michiru and Hanako were moreover in the guest bedroom trying on the dresses for the wedding and Jiro and her husband were in the living room, putting their suits on as well. Only the blonde seemed to need some modifying so she begrudgingly made way to her bedroom with the alterationist to make the needed modifications. She currently stood at her full height, the blazer removed, some buttons on the dress shirt popped open and the waistcoat looking too small for her fitted size.
"These days, I wish that wasn't the case," she grunted and pulled the waistcoat off, dropping it on one of the unoccupied chairs. "She got my entire suit wrong…" Haruka rolled her eyes as she popped one more button from the dress shirt that Shina could finally see as way too tight for her liking. "Maybe she crossed fantasy with reality when she was altering my suit to be this small…"
The elder female Kaioh chuckled in mirth, the blonde's emeralds narrowing at the waistcoat once more before all attention went up to her.
"But enough of my plights…What's bothering you Kaioh-san?"
Shina gave a warm smile and patted the empty spot of the bed next to her. "Sit down. I just want to simply talk."
She could see the apprehension in the tomboy's clear emeralds, and she couldn't help, but feel responsible for that almost automatic emotion.
"If this is about the vacation, I—
"It's not," she cut off, not wanting to delve into already solved problems. "I can tell when Michiru-chan has an idea and no one else, including you, has been told about it…so…no. I didn't come to you to talk about the vacation. I completely agree on that decision to tell you the truth."
The young CEO nodded and gave a small bow. "Thank you."
She patted the spot next to her once more, looking up at the tomboy and not wanting to stretch her neck far more than she already has. "Sit down. I'm sure you and I share the same sentiment in not liking conversations with people towering over us."
Emeralds widened at her words and she sat down quickly soon after. Shina didn't really quite know when the tomboy's actions had stopped being annoying and just simply seemed…Tenoh Haruka to her…but recently, the blonde had become more favorable in her eyes.
She sussed it was the same as she felt about Jiro the first time she realized he could be the one to dethrone her from her righteous spot as CEO of Kaioh-Miroku. He seemed like a naïve, little boy in her eyes back then, but somewhere along the way he had shown her that he can…he could…he would…be a good leader for her and her husband's company. These days, there's nothing much he can say or do that would make her see him in a bad light…but she sussed that was just her seeing him as a sort of surrogate son—the one she hadn't been blessed enough to have.
Haruka had been giving her that same impression recently. She had blindly and purposefully stepped on her in the beginning and middle of the planning stage of the wedding preparations and if she were anymore conceited, she would've done so at the end as well. But now they all had come to this crossroad. And she had seen with her own eyes and felt with her own heart that if any word described her daughter's lover…it was genuine. The tomboy had been genuine with her and Shinji since the start of this entire thing and all they had been feeding her were trials and tribulations…as if it was in their right that they could do that…
She knew better now. They both did. The apology she was about to release was a bit late…but, just like the blonde, she had pride as well…and wasn't able to shove it far back enough until now.
The young CEO gave her an asking look making her start out in the best way possible.
"I'm sorry."
Emeralds widened causing her to chuckle in mirth. It really was that surprising…
Looking down at the sleek, mahogany wood planks beneath her sitting figure, she sighed outwardly, but nevertheless smiled. "Do you remember…when I came to invade your office the first time I found out that you and Michiru-chan were somehow connected?"
Haruka gave a look of amusement, nostalgia splashing over her handsome features. She nodded. "Nh, I do remember."
Shina sat quietly to gather her thoughts for a moment, before continuing, "I should've known then, what kind of a person you were. I came in, without warning or respect…and I demanded something that, in the reality of vantage points, shouldn't have been my business. 'What are you to my daughter?' The answer was so simple…and you gave it to me so easily…yet even after that, I've been cruel to you for the majority of our relationship."
The blonde remained quiet, probably due to the fact that she was surprised that the elder female Kaioh was bringing this up.
"In the beginning…I hated everything that you symbolized. I don't even know why I did. It was most likely because I thought I knew what was good for Michiru-chan and she in turn, did not know what was good for herself. I fooled myself into thinking that it was alright to act in such an unbefitting manner…if only for her sake. I only figured out after that it was for my sake that I acted the way I did…I used the excuse of knowing better than she did and pushed my opinions to the point where I could've lost her…
"You would think after I killed my own daughter—
"Kaioh-san…"
She put her palms up in the air to silence the tomboy and she could hear her swallow roughly. "You would think after I killed my own daughter," she continued, her jaw clenching at the statement, "that I would learn to cherish what I have and not take everything for granted. You would think that I wouldn't make the same mistakes again…Shinji and I are so blind sometimes…so stuck in this tunnel where to go back seems like a crime so the only other thing to do is move forward."
Gray eyes locked with worried emeralds and she couldn't, for the life of her, take the guilt ridden look in her features out.
"I played you…Shinji and I played you, as much if not more than we did to Shigeru-san. We wanted to break you…make you realize that your presence would never be of value to her…and in the beginning…we completely thought we were doing the right thing. We thought you would fight back…play dirt with dirt so to speak. But the only thing you did was defend yourself. You defended our daughter and your feelings for her and…sooner than I thought was possible, I began to doubt the things I was doing.
"I think the time when I stopped second guessing my actions and knew that I was wrong though…was when you called me and Shinji for dinner. Everything that I wanted to happen…came out of your mouth. Everything that you were more than willing to give up seemed like the dream that I was working on weaving the entire time I was with you. But the thoughts, 'We finally broke her' didn't enter my mind. I didn't feel like I won at all…In essence…I lost something…and I wanted so badly to apologize to you then…but pride got in the way and I'm only glad that everything that I wanted to happen, didn't turn out as such."
Her gaze fell into a quiet blonde's and her hand rose to the tall woman's cheek, cupping it and earning herself a very surprised look.
"You are a very beautiful woman Haruka-san."
She chuckled at the widening of emerald eyes at her words and pinched her cheek before putting her hand back down to her lap.
"Inside and out…you've been beautiful. If this was a mere game to you like I thought it was before, you wouldn't have made such a fool like me and my husband think differently about a subject I thought I would never have to second guess. You wouldn't have been able to let me see…that it's alright that you're a woman and that you love my daughter with as much ferocity as she loves you. That it's okay to be around your continued presence.
"I learned how harsh I came as when I stood near you outside Otou-sama's hospital door and heard everything that went on in that room. I was disgusted at first that he thought it was okay to say things so unlike a person of his stature…but I only realized after that…how he was acting, has been the basis of my actions ever since I got to know who you were to my daughter. Hypocrite…didn't even scratch the surface of how foolish I found myself as."
She sighed and grabbed her temple, shaking her head more to herself than anyone. Locking once again with quiet emeralds, she smiled, and rubbed Haruka's back, earning a sheepish smile from the blonde.
"You've shown over and over that you care…and if I've been too blind to see it before, I just wanted to let you know that, that isn't the case anymore. I see you as what you are and I hope you can see me as more than what I've been showing you and come to actually get to know me as well. For the continuance of your and my daughter's happiness, I wish we would get along from this day forth…regardless and especially if her marriage with Jiro-kun comes to be. I will set all the wrongs I've done right if only for you to stay with her…and I know I don't have to say these things…because the devotion you've shown already goes beyond what one person does for another, but I want to continue knowing that my daughter will be happy…regardless of this loop hole that she and ultimately you have to go through for Shinji and my sake."
Emeralds drifted to the floor after her words, a soft, almost sad smile slowly rising out of her features. Looking back up to Shina, she smiled a genuinely happy one and nodded.
"Thank you. I thought I'd have to wait longer and exercise more discipline until we're able to get our footing, but…"
The elder female Kaioh chuckled at her words and patted her thigh.
"Thank you Kaioh-san. This means a lot to me."
"Shina…enough…formalities between the two of us. Shinji…you may still have to ask, but he's not very good at these things although I think he probably tried this morning and will try again when he gathers enough courage to say he's sorry…"
Haruka laughed and nodded in understanding. "Tell him I'm open to talk about whatever's on his mind anytime…"
She got up and patted mussed sandy blonde hairs beneath her making the tomboy's face scrunch at her action.
"Is Oba-san…stretching it?"
She looked surprised at the question for a bit and she could see the tall woman wanting to retract the question. Maybe somehow take it back…
"Ahh…sorry…I have a knack of messing things up early when it's just been resolved…"
But she shook her head and chuckled in her mirth. "Oba-san is perfectly acceptable."
Haruka stood up and bowed deeply in thanks just as her bedroom door opened to reveal Michiru with her hair all taken care of, but back in her sundress she had been wearing the entire day. She looked surprised at the little scene played out in front of her and didn't know what emotion best fitted the situation she knew nothing about. She was all of the sudden defensive, if only because that had been the action she's had repeatedly put up and gotten used to putting up for her and the tomboy's sake.
"Haruka…"
"Oh! Umm—
"The alterationist royally messed up on the best man's suit…or…maid of honor's whichever Haruka-san's going to be for the wedding," Shina suddenly stated, an air of exasperation clear in her suddenly strict tone. "I need to do some serious tongue lashing now if only to alleviate the concern for it and insist they get it perfected tonight so it's taken care of before your trip."
Sapphires widened at the definite unmissed change of formality as the elder female Kaioh patted the blonde's shoulder once again and began taking her leave, kissing her daughter in the cheek as she passed her and chuckled inwardly at how surprised she still looked.
The door closed and Michiru could only keep her stunned expression up.
"You're mother and I are on a first name basis…" Haruka stated with an awed lopsided smile. "I can call her Oba-san from now on…"
It warmed her…so much more than she thought it would. It took them long enough, but she's glad it came. Better late than never was a saying that completely covered all the bases and she saw it meant as much to her as it did for the blonde by the sparkle of her eyes.
She suddenly wanted to see it…how their talk was like, but figured she'd see them acting more than civilly to one another after this event.
The tomboy charged at her and hugged her tightly, gripping her by the waist and momentarily lifting her in the air, the joy in her emeralds speaking much more than words at the relief and happiness that splashed her entire figure. Michiru laughed, wrapping her arms around her neck and pulling her towards her for a kiss.
Things were finally starting to look up…And even though it may go down sometimes, there was more than the two of them in their corner now.
O-----O
It was eighty-five degrees in Okinawa…She couldn't believe how wonderful her entire body felt as it bathed in the warmness of the sun's rays. Looking down at her toes, embraced by yellow sand, she crinkled her nose at the minimal amount of seaweed littering the ocean shore as another bout of warm waves engulfed her feet, reaching up to her ankles before retreating back into the hands of the ocean.
The breeze felt wonderful, the salty wind combined with the atmosphere and sounds making her wonder why she never visited this part of Japan before. Her hair danced wildly, a contented smile pasted automatically over her handsome face. She wondered briefly if there were any unoccupied lots on sale in the area…It would be a pretty good side project to work on another beach house or estate to live in here when she felt like vacationing and not wanting to get out of the country.
Alabaster arms wrapped around her t-shirt clad figure, her smile widening at Michiru's familiar smell and her thought process from earlier disappearing as soon as it came.
"What're you thinking about?" the violinist asked softly, her words almost missed by the rough crashing of the waves all around them.
She turned around, gathering the smaller woman in her arms as well and looking over her head at the larger than life "beach houses" that littered the entirety of the shore.
"I was thinking," she started, "of making a beach house…here. Ambience is really nice…"
Michiru laughed in mirth. "Speaking of building houses, did you speak to your mother about…leaving the mainland? You two don't need to fight anymore…"
Haruka's face hardened, although it was obvious she was doing it playfully. "She was the one who semi disowned me…Why should I be the one crawling back?"
"Haruka…"
She smirked. "I'll talk to her when I get back…She'll give me this I-told-you-so face that I need to ready myself for…"
The violinist pinched her cheeks in adoration, leaning into her and giving her a kiss as the waves crashed into their feet again.
"Ojou-sama! Lunch is ready!"
They both turned to an aging man who signaled them back into the huge beach house under the ownership of the Kaiohs. An old married couple, hired by the Kaiohs too long ago, had been the caretakers of this certain vacation home ever since Michiru could remember. Every summer prior to Yui's death, they would vacation as a family and visit each of their vacation homes, not really visiting to see how the estate's being taken care of, but wanting a different vibe per week of their time off. It was definitely during better times…when her family was a little more easygoing and seemed like one cohesive unit.
As they settled down for lunch with the caretakers of the house nowhere in sight, Haruka gave the violinist a questioning look at their absence before decidedly digging in.
"Now that you mention it, they always seemed that way when we came to vacation," Michiru stated in the middle of her chewing. "They're here, but they're not really here…Maybe it was a rule my parents asked of them long ago that just kind of stuck until now."
The blonde still gave an uneasy look over the amount of food and energy it must've taken to make such a hearty meal, but nodded in understanding nonetheless.
"Hope we didn't impose though…" she stated in apprehension, making the smaller woman laugh.
"Okaa-san told them ahead of time that we'd come over. I'm pretty sure we're not imposing Haruka."
The tomboy nodded, still a little hesitant at the generosity given so easily by the caretakers of the Kaioh's vacation home.
"So I have some things to show you on our few days stay here," Michiru stated, grabbing her attention altogether. She smiled in nostalgia. "Some of them are based more on the island's history, but there are some places that my sister and I frequented when we came here. I wonder if those things are still there…"
Haruka smiled. "Can't wait." She smiled softly, earning a wider smile from the violinist. "I have some things I want to do too by the way…"
She's been contemplating on these things she's about to say for a while and wondered if the small woman would give her the go ahead to do them. She definitely didn't wan to feel as if she was sneaking around when she finally felt the time was right to do so.
The aqua haired woman gave her, her undivided attention, as she looked over the tonkatsu in her plate and picked it up with her chopstick.
"Two things," she started, locking eyes with sapphire seriously. The violinist only nodded, waiting patiently for her to continue. "First…" she smirked. She wondered if this would come out right… "First…I want to give…Jiro-kun…a bachelor party…when we get back…"
Michiru released an exasperated laugh as well as a small quirk of the eyebrow.
"Yes, I know he's devoted to his job and all…but I think it's high time that he gets a little loose too…at least just a tiny bit before the wedding…He deserves it. He's been too nice and—
"I completely agree," the smaller woman stated in mirth, cutting off her rambling lover.
Haruka smiled in relief.
"Although," the violinist continued, "I would want to know exactly what it is, you'll be treating him with…"
Sapphires flashed dangerously and the blonde knew not to say the wrong things, but to also say the truth…
"A little drinking…" the tomboy started, albeit hesitantly. "Umm…good forms of entertainment—
"Like what Haruka? Stop being ambiguous!"
"Like…I don't know…Exotic…dancers?"
"You're not allowed to attend the party you set up then…"
"But Michiru!"
"No buts," the violinist said resolutely, turning to her lunch again. "No buts…unless…Hanako-san gives me a bachelorette party…She's been going off about it ever since we were trying on our dresses and I've been refuting since, but…if you're allowed to attend Jiro's bachelor party…then I'll allow her to make me one."
A dark look came over the blonde's face at the mere thought of men dancing in nothing more than their underwear anywhere even remotely close to her Michiru.
"No."
"Then I suppose you see where I'm coming from in regards to 'exotic dancers' now, ne?"
She wanted to stab her jealous feelings aside, but stabbed a piece of meat on her side dish with her chopstick instead.
"Haruka…"
"Fine, I won't…"
She knew she sounded childish, but she couldn't help it, and neither could Michiru because a half a second later she was up and depositing herself on the tomboy's lap. Putting her hands on her cheeks again, she forced her to look up, narrowed emeralds darting away from her sapphires, and a cute angry pout placed expertly on her lips.
"Ruka?"
"What?"
"Don't be like that…"
"It's an innocent bachelor party…"
Michiru laughed. "I don't think innocent and bachelor parties are words that fit right in the same sentence koi…"
"Still," the tomboy stated resolutely, her pout resilient on her face as well. She couldn't find the right words to fight back so she remained quiet, knowing full well it was because she had weak reasoning to begin with, but hoping her expression and attitude were enough to sway the violinist's decision.
"What do you want to do?" the smaller woman asked softly, trying to meet eyes with her, but being unable to because of her avoidance.
"Nothing. It's fine…I don't want to do it anymore…"
"Koi…Don't do that to me…"
Her guilt trip was slowly working, and both of them knew it. She decided to gun for the remaining one hundred meters of this final lap and go for it. Tipping her head on Michiru's exposed neck she gave little kisses in familiar areas and gripped the violinist tightly around her waist, looking needier than she wanted to outwardly show.
"Michiru…"
"Nh?"
"Koi…"
"What is it?"
She kissed her a final time, sucking at a sensitive spot more than she should've and leaving a mark as well as feeling smaller hips grind down on her.
"Please?"
She looked up, her emerald eyes brimming in puppy dog goodness. She could see her breaking…And she doubted it was even the bachelor party in her mind anymore, the whole scene with Michiru on her lap in the middle of lunch, with her begging about that kind of thing, comical and warming at the same time.
"Promise you won't do anything I'll be angry at the next day?" the violinist asked, making her laugh in amusement.
"It depends actually…"
"Not what I wanted to hear…" the smaller woman sighed and made her way out of her lap.
"No, no!" Haruka stated frantically, keeping her arms around her waist tightened. "I meant things I can do to Jiro-kun! I won't do anything…" She rolled her eyes in exasperation. "The most I'll do is probably watch while he's getting horded by too may females he won't know what to do with and get him drunk enough to completely hate me the next day…"
Michiru laughed at her thought process. "Oh, Haruka…Poor Jiro…"
The tomboy grinned. "So, yes? Please? I'll behave…I promise!"
She gave her a look of amused exasperation before finally nodding in consent, Haruka grinning from ear to ear at the end of a seemingly trying request.
"And your next one in your to do list?"
Her face must've visibly changed because the mirth and amusement in the violinist's face had slid down at the change of subject as soon as hers did as well.
The blonde looked away, her face serious and a little troubled.
"Haruka?"
Sighing and breathing deeply in an almost simultaneous manner, she looked up into expressive sapphires and gave an unsure smile. "I want to talk to Kaioh-san…"
It was something Michiru definitely was not expecting. "Ojii-san?" she asked just to make sure they were both in the same page.
The tomboy nodded. "Preferably alone…"
"Why?"
"I don't know…" she said quietly, pulling Michiru in closer to her and leaning her head comfortably on her sloped shoulders. "I feel like…I just have to…It's not to pick a fight or anything like that…I just…I feel like it'll be a constant battle between him and your parents…and the main reason is because of me. I'm not trying to be arrogant in saying that, but I feel like…if I can somehow even just dent…his thought process about who I am to him and what the rest of the family means to him, then maybe…he wouldn't be so bitter about the entire thing…"
The violinist could only look at her quietly as she voiced her thoughts.
"He could see everything for what they're truly valued and…we won't have to dance around him secretively every single time. I want your family to acknowledge me…everyone. Including your grandfather…I think it's unfair to him and to you and everyone that we'll show what seems like a normal wedding when underneath it are only cruel intentions. I just want to talk…maybe about nothing, but…I just want to talk. That's all."
Slowly, wordlessly, Michiru nodded in understanding, dipping to her once more and sharing a slow and meaningful kiss.
"I hope…you can see something that I've given up hope seeing."
Haruka gulped at her too sad words.
O-----O
"Come on, hurry."
She was excited to see it again and was even more so at showing the blonde the area. She was sure no one had found it yet, an accidental fall after bickering with her sister the only reason why they had found it in the first place.
After a bit of lounging in the hot sun after their lunch, the two lovers took a high speed power boat to an island seemingly etched in the violinist's memory. For a second, the small woman wondered how she could differentiate it from the other islands, but figured, it was the aura surrounding the place: so familiar and a part of her being far more so than the other islands littering about it.
They had gotten off the boat as soon as Haruka had mechanically put it ashore, pulling it far enough out of the water so it wouldn't get swept away by the waves and began trekking with the violinist to the middle of the remote island. It was small, probably three or so miles wide on all sides and the overall look and effect of it boasted no different to the bigger or smaller islands nearby.
Michiru felt her heart grow steadily faster. She hadn't been here for a while…the last time being too sad for her to think about at the present moment.
They silently trudged on, strong hands linked over her own as her eyes looked for the familiar tunnel that would lead to the place she and her sister accidentally discovered.
She made a small excited sound that caught her lover's attention as well and broke their hands free, jogging to what seemed like a wall of overgrown bushes.
Sapphires looked excitedly back at emeralds as Haruka smirked, casually put her hands in her pockets and walked towards her, a questioning look in her striking features.
Michiru looked towards the bush and pulled the branches and leaves out of the way, widening emeralds in surprise at the small hole that couldn't have been seen otherwise.
The small woman smiled in satisfaction.
"When I was ten," she started, pulling some more of the branches out of the way and destroying some leaves in the process, "Gin-san, our caretaker, took me and Onee-san here. He wanted to check out if the acerola cherry tree he planted the last time we came had yielded any fruit so while he did that we thought, it being a small island and all, we could go ahead and break from him and explore."
Haruka smirked at the childish display so rarely seen in Michiru's mature sapphires.
"An hour later…and…it was safe to say we were lost." She laughed in amusement, nostalgia clearly written in her eyes as she pulled out a flashlight from a plastic bag she took with them. "I was crying because my feet were hurting and Onee-san didn't want to give me a break, so I started throwing a fit and when I got angry enough, I pushed her, and when she got angry enough, she pushed me…and sooner than I could even realize what had happened, my back went through this opening and I landed roughly on the sandy ground."
They both jumped into the dark crevice, the tomboy pulling Michiru close to her from the back and the smaller woman leaning into her as soon as they had made their way inside. The dampness of the small, dark cave was apparent and the sound of running water echoed a little ways away to their left mysteriously. Michiru directed the flashlight in that direction and with Haruka following closely behind and still holding her protectively, they ventured farther into the cave.
"I was crying because my back hurt and Onee-san seemed genuinely sorry, so about twenty minutes later and I stopped, she and I decided to get out."
"That's too high up…" the tomboy stated in observation and looked up at the hole that they had jumped into.
Michiru nodded. "We figured that out after…so we didn't have any choice, but to keep going forward."
"Aww my Michiru was such a brave little girl," the young CEO teased, earning her a cheek pinch.
"I wasn't…" the smaller woman admitted with a laugh. "I was gripping on my sister's hand the entire time. I think…that's where I had gotten my fear of the dark to tell you the truth."
"Wholly justified…This place is creepy…"
They walked further in, the sand slowly filling with cool water until they were trudging in it shin deep, small pebbles accompanying the softness of the sand beneath their sandals. The coral rocks stretched on in what seemed like endless miles before them, the gray, rough surrounding walls tall and wide enough to give them the space they needed to pass through without necessary scratches.
Squinting her eyes, Haruka noticed something man made in the side and laughed. "Is that…a lantern?"
Michiru flashed the light to the direction of the wall and laughed as well. "Onee-san and I made it a point to come here every time we vacationed after finding out about it and Otou-san was worried about our well being so he made someone put lanterns all over the place. As soon as they knew we were planning on coming, someone would be hired to turn the lanterns on and people would be stationed at each end…just so our general well being was seen and accounted for."
The tomboy chuckled. "He's definitely overprotective…"
About a couple minutes more into their walk and they finally came into a clearing, the light at the end of the tunnel getting brighter and brighter and to the tomboy's surprise and awe, the writings clearly visible on the wall.
They both stopped among the first few characters in kanji, the words scratched deeply by a pointed object, possibly a knife or a jagged piece of rock.
"When onee-san and I first got here, we saw these writings on the wall and were completely awed by them. We thought they could possibly be remnants of a lost tribe…or writings of someone who had been stuck here and died. The kanji's very old…so even now it's hard to decipher it, but after a while, we made our own tradition, and began writing on the walls too."
She pulled Haruka along further to the opening of the cave and saw scrawls of messy hiragana, katakana, and kanji strewn all over both sides of the walls. It was obvious which words belonged to Yui and those that a young Michiru had written, both girls having an agreement long ago that one would scrawl in one side, while the other sister occupied the other wall.
The tomboy smiled as she read the left side first, confused at first as to which of the two sisters had taken to owning this wall.
I wish to do better in my recitals as well as have the courage to ask Ken out.
She smirked, breaking away from Michiru and walking along further to read the rest. It almost felt as if she was peering into a diary and a part of her was ashamed and curious all at the same time.
"We had decided the second time we came here that we would write a wish every year we visited," the violinist explained, following her and reading the familiar writings on the wall.
Haruka nodded in understanding, reading aloud, "I wish to be accepted to Fukoka High School and get the number one spot in class…This is your sister."
Michiru smiled. "Yes…I was ten when I wrote my first wish and she was fifteen when she wrote that."
Haruka smirked and walked on, Michiru's hands entangled with hers once more.
I wish for Otou-san and Okaa-san to give me my own office at Kaioh-Miroku.
"Did your parents ever see these?"
The violinist laughed and nodded. "When we got back…they gave her, her own office at Kaioh-Miroku…"
The tomboy sighed in amusement and read on.
I wish Toshiro would acknowledge me as more than a simple lab partner.
"They didn't go out until the last year of high school," the smaller woman stated the unspoken question. "And by this time, our parents had given us enough freedom to roam the island alone so I doubt they've ever seen the last couple wishes my sister and I wrote down."
Haruka's smile disappeared and a melancholic expression took its place shortly thereafter.
I wish Otou-san and Okaa-san would learn to accept ideas and feelings wholeheartedly.
Michiru gripped her sides as she came to hug her waist, the young CEO's arms going over the smaller woman's shoulders automatically.
"She came here alone…I believe before coming back to the house for Christmas vacation," the violinist said quietly, her voice full of sadness. "She wrote her last wish…and I didn't see it…until I came back here without her…"
Neatly written in the wall were the last etched letters, bore deep into it like an old scar: I wish…I was a better older sister.
Her heart felt heavy, and she could tell by Haruka's hurt expression that she was feeling the same way as well. But this was a part of her she wanted to show…and she would rather do so with tears gushing out of her eyes than to always hide such a rich part of her past.
"Come," she said quietly, pulling her back to the beginning of the writings. "Read mine…"
The blonde smiled at her warmly, taking her once again by the waist and holding her from behind, reading aloud the first wish that made her smirk.
"I wish to surpass Onee-san in playing all stringed instruments especially her specialty: the viola."
The both laughed in amusement, the tomboy planting a kiss on her temple.
"You were so competitive…"
"We both were…" the smaller woman replied indignantly. "Onee-san just didn't like writing her real wishes out loud."
The young CEO smirked and pulled her along. "I wish my painting gets recognition in the school art fair. Definite overachiever…"
She gave the quipping tall woman a small playful slap making her husky laugh echo in the brightly lit cave.
"I wish to get accepted as well as promoted to team captain on my first year in the swim team." She looked at the aqua haired woman questioningly. "Did you?"
"I dropped out…"
Emeralds narrowed immediately. "Why?"
"I was bullied out of it and wasn't strong enough to cope at the time…so I decided a flight instead of fight reaction was the better choice…"
She could feel the anger bubbling out of the blonde's figure and she caressed her cheeks and hair quickly to dispel any rage.
"It was a long time ago…I'm over it…"
Blonde thin eyebrows didn't unstitch as she looked over to the next neatly written sentence: I wish people would stop looking at me and saying "prodigy" when I play the violin. It's hard work…not natural born talent.
That definitely cleared her mind of what was bothering her before.
"I was in my rebellious phase at the time…" Michiru explained in mirth.
Haruka laughed and hugged her tighter, the smaller woman leading them to her last few sentences.
The tomboy read it to herself before reading it out loud, the sentence making her wonder if the cryptic wish entailed exactly what she thought it did. "I wish an answer to feelings I shouldn't have in fear that they're wrong or unaccepted…" She looked at the violinist who could only smile softly. "Were you wishing what I think you were wishing for?"
She nodded. "I think…that was when I realized I'm more different than a lot of the other girls in my class than I thought…"
"That's a great thing…" Haruka stated huskily and leaned her face into warm aqua curls, kissing her hair and parts of her ears and eliciting the response she wanted.
They continued on, both dreading the last two because they were obviously placed last for a good reason: it was the ending of innocence. They would never return again in this cave with their childhood dreams still viewed before them in open fields. It would be the crashing of reality…and end to a bond.
I wish my family would always have happy days like this.
I wish…I was ample reason enough for you to stay…
Haruka's hold on Michiru tightened, the sadness and melancholy at losing her sister and feeling she wasn't adequate reason enough for the other to stay apparent to the blonde.
"I came here by myself, a month or so after all the funeral and general chaos regarding Onee-san's death passed…and I stayed here all day and cried," the violinist stated quietly, her attention fixed on the wall and characters in front of her. "It was apparent to me real quickly that she had been contemplating on doing what she did…because of her last 'wish.' And it hurt so much, Haruka…that she couldn't see me as a viable enough reason to live…"
Tears marched down from depressed sapphires and all the tomboy could do was hold her tighter, kissing her hair and whispering sweet nothings in her ear. They stayed that way for the longest time, silence surrounding them peacefully more than forebodingly and soon after, all that was left were dried marks were the trails of tears were last seen. Then, after one last kiss, Haruka retracted her arms from the other woman's slim waist and went out of the cave wordlessly. Michiru was afraid for a second that maybe it had all been too much for her, until she came back with a jagged piece of rock in hand and a small assuring smile in her handsome features.
She trudged wordlessly to the area to the left of the aqua haired woman's last written wish and without a moment's hesitation wrote: I promise to make your life brighter, happier than those days you used to remember. I promise to always be the reason you'd want to stay and be ample enough reason to never doubt in your heart that you want to live.
Emeralds locked with sparkling sapphires, the latter coming up to her slowly and pressing her up against the wall to initiate a deep kiss. The jagged piece of rock in Haruka's hands fell into the cool water beneath them replaced by hands securely tightened and fastened with hers as if saying wordlessly to never let go.
AN: Yay another chapter to be put in the done bin. I seriously need to start these chapters faster within the week cuz I'm literally killing my Fridays writing them XD So I'm thinking…another three or four chapters and the story's done…I THINK. So…by the start of the New Year…I'm hoping the entirety of FwB will be put in the done bin. Huzzah for before New Year, New Year's resolutions. So it's finals week…this week and next week…/sigh…but I'll probably have something up next Friday too because as much as you guys want to read I want to get it done and over with…It's been a wonderful process writing this story and I just want to feel finally accomplished at having it DONE. A lot of people feel as if they know how it will end. I don't want to give it up by saying anything other than what a lot of you have finally accepted as being okay isn't going to be the proper ending. It's not a happy ending…at least not for me…and I promised a happy ending…so therefore that won't be the ending. :P that's all you'll get outta me this week. TTFN. (Edit): FFN hates me today...Sorry...Anyway...in order to relieve people about the question regarding happy and unhappy endings, I was hoping that in writing this AN that it would have people understand...Apparently though, my words were probably lost in translation thereby misinterpreted and now I just kind of want to set the record straight. What I'm trying to convey regarding what people think about the ending versus what I have planned is the polar opposite. I felt people were starting to warm up to the fact that Michiru and Jiro are getting married when a long time ago, I promised a happy ending...and that is NOT a happy ending by a long shot...even though everyone in the story accepts it wholeheartedly. That being said...there will be a happy ending that doesn't entail marriage between Jiro and Michiru. The only real quest left is how they manage to get outta their predicament. Alright...hope that alleviated some of your concerns regarding my AN this week that apparently was more confusing than helpful :P
Kilohe: Thank you for saying Haruka was believable…all I wanted to hear. Yeah Lich King's been crazy good…but once again, I have a pretty set idea on what my priorities are and getting this story done is a priority before more playing, which doesn't really mean I won't play, but yeah. Kei will be seen next chappy as told by Haruka.
AlterEgoErin: Another victim of ffn's crappy review cutting? Gah…stupid site…Glad you liked the chapter nonetheless and I hope Shina's progression into her talk with Haruka was believable as well. Jiro…my gf wants him to have someone…I think my OCs are being showered with love more often these days.
My Veggie Burger: Yes you would have so made it longer! Lies! I plan on a couple more talks to solidify Haruka's relationship with the remaining male Kaiohs so hopefully I'll do as good a job as I did w/ Shina here…I was personally proud of that. XD Yeah I liked that whole baby convo too…OOooO you read HP? -.- need to edit…and…get ur mind outta the gutter! Take ur mind off? Here! One more chapter…this convo never happened!
Haruka-Michiru: Yay a review! XD sorry…Zomg very, very excited for winter break…I neeeeeeed a school break damn it! Yes! Video games for me and nights of drinking Pepsi as well! Will Kei really get what he's asking for? Haha…I would hate that kind of ending to be honest…
Ryoko05: You seem so sure it won't be a happy one. You know…when people leave a review like that w/ me in the other side knowing there's more to the story than revealed…it makes me cackle. Hahaha…
t.: I'M SORRY! XD j/k yay no ooc! I graduated! Shoot Blizzard reps, I insist! Dang…I need to reread it all after I'm done, edit what I feel needs editing (a lot from what I've seen) and then print it and be proud of it XD
wolvesorrow: Murphy? Nah! No wai. Haha I loved writing Jiro this chapter…so I hope more fan love goes his way. Poor guy…needs someone…-.- Glad it's realistic enough in a fantasy-ish level XD and I guess I can never say I've been through that whole family member raising hell bit because I guess it was expected of me to bring home a girl more than a guy XD It's the reality for a lot of situations though…Haha as for Kei dying…hmm…I doubt he will :P
waiting4FWBupdate: XD zomg!! Well thank you for thinking I deserve my break enough. Kei will not just have another heart attack…no recycled drama! A movie adaptation?? That would be flattering as well as downright awesome.
Swinging Cloud: :D!! You reviewed!! Wait…sorry XD I live for plot twists…always expect them! Constant vigilance! Semi-smut is never better than…wait…-.- I'm still not good enough to write that…I don't think I ever will. YOU on the other hand…I know you can do that…w/ your tra-la-la butterflies, rhinos, kitties, and lemons abound! Whenever I spoil something in these reviews…either I'm playing or being sarcastic. That ending…is not the planned ending :D won't say more than that :P Haha you are such a writer…I love reading your reviews and going zomg…overdramatic writing on the prowl! Flailed in a vast sea of emptiness eh? XD always a trip w/ you.
WindChaser0001: Zomg! Missed one zero!! -.- I'm sorry…it won't happen again, I promise haha. Everything'll be fine in the end…just ride it out til then and maybe just try to surprise yourself haha.
Black Caballiere: glad the chappy was worth the wait and there are a little bit more before I'm completely resigned in being happy and satisfied w/ the finish of this fic.
James Birdsong: Umm…thank you?
YinYangTwin1: Old people are grouchy…please excuse them. Haha Yeah they'll never catch a break as long as I'm the author…You live in Bermuda? That's tight! Haha
impersonal: Heh, well I'm flattered to have you come back. I know how that feels and I don't feel wronged or insulted that you feel that way. Reviewers are mostly right in that aspect…it has been a long trying few months in which a crawl seems like the most they're moving. Even I feel that way although when I write I can't seem to make it fast enough so there you go. We're all stuck in a precipice and…hopefully my slow crawl can turn into a stop soon haha. Thank you for understanding though and taking the time to read more of what you missed. Glad the slowness was semi excused w/ the effort though haha. Thank you for the comments and another person hounding me is as flattering as it is nerve wracking xD
petiyaka: "villain" seems a little harsh although Kei was being an overall ass last chap so I dunno if your term is right or wrong. Evil characters are more fun, not to mention easier to write than the goody two shoes so yes, evil characters are a must in my stories. Haha Yoshiko's fine. She'll probably appear…in the wedding, I'm thinking. We'll see how my thought process goes. They did talk about her a little bit this chappy tho. Playing is as much a part of me as writing (ok not to that extent) but yes, playing too much can never be promised. Last month alone, I stayed up three full nights cuz of wow…WOW…
Thepillows92.5: zomg your number in your name changed! Haha ok…mistress….hahaah sorry for it sounding dirty…do you have any other terms that would be fitting for Haruka's title? Haruka and you have the same thought process about Jiro apparently. That bachelor party should be a riot to write about…I'm glad you don't like it…cuz I don't like the whole title deal either. Will try to make the ends justify the means…
Vanessa Riverton: yay! Ring! One ring to rule them all -.- ok…sorry. How will it end? Hopefully the right way.
Mantaray: Never in a million years will I think Haruka'll be a mistress either…so…haha. The part w/ Kei wanting to hit his granddaughter will probably not be changed considering it's the action that blows all that his family thinks him as into a jumble of BLAH…so haha. Hopefully I'll do better/more realistic characterizations next time.
LaCazadora: You're welcome for the update!
Sacha-Bermuda: Haha…the second to say he/she lives in Bermuda yay! I should make country references more often. Glad you like the story thus far and hope it keeps your attention for the duration.
Nekomi Kaze: XD haha sorry for the warning to be so up in the air. I made it seem like an emergency situation too…WRATH IS COMING OUT! I WON'T BE WRITING! All that you ask will be resolved in due time…so hopefully as the story telling ends, there won't be anymore questions left. But if there is, guess that's what epilogues are for…:P Kei and Haruka will probably have a lone confrontation next chappy…Hope it's as good as my mind says it will be.
Graceling: hahahaha nh…XD "Nh" is a term that you sound out more than it is a word. I guess, translation speaking, it would be most closely related to "Yes". But it's more of a sound like "Tch" or "Pfft" more than anything. I use it a lot so sorry if every time you stumbled on it you went "WTH is this?" -.- "It's not even a real word!" XD Thank you for taking the time to review the story though and the fact that you didn't before isn't something for me to poke you with a pitchfork for xD Review when you can, but if you can't, that's fine too :)
krugern: It's funny because I know when to expect your reviews…and just by looking at my mail I KNOW which one is yours from the size comparison to the other reviewers. Always, ALWAYS a good time in my end reading your review. I loved the whole baby talk…Felt completely natural to type when I wrote the scene down. Haha an email after three weeks of zero updates XD spoiled! SPOILED! ALL OF YOU!! xD j/k Glad Haruka's character has matured finely and the photos? Haha…I already explained that, although if you want to read the scene over it's in chapter 14: Comprehensions. If you don't, what technically happened was that, Haruka, after knowing a little bit of the person behind the blackmailing attempt during the party, woke up w/ a huge hangover the next day and was technically out for blood. She got someone in her company, probably for those kind of hush hush reasons to take him and his company down, but when they got to him…he was already closed for business. It could only be connected that the Kaiohs did something before she could. So yeah…that's the photos deal XD