Chapter 24: Planning, Meeting, Partying
She felt that they were going to leave Okinawa too soon and that emotion left a bittersweet taste in her mouth. The more days that passed in which she spent with the younger woman, the more she knew she would spend the rest of her life with her and that kind of commitment may have scared the wits out of her before, but now… Now…she wished she was in the opposite side of the commitment pole.
It wasn't the first time in the last few months that she wished she was Jiro. If this goes all the way, she doubted she would ever not want to wish she was what the public eyed the red haired man was to Michiru. And it wasn't that she was insecure about her relationship with the beautiful smaller woman—just that the mantra of, "It's only a title" has been recycled in her brain so often now that even she lost belief in it. Of course the violinist knew this of her…And she tried with all her being to show emotionally, physically, and mentally that it would be alright, but it was safe to say that it was always the mental battles that Haruka lost in the end.
How did it make sense to have the love of your life tightly held in your embrace and have these insecurities at the same time? The answer was obvious to her, of course, and because their situation would never be merited as a "normal" one, she just hoped that she would be okay in the long run.
"You're thinking again."
Her lover's soft voice broke her out of her reverie and caused a smirk to land on her striking features.
"Trust me it's not voluntary," she replied causing the smaller woman to giggle at her and push her forward on her beach chair, depositing her lithe body behind her and pulling her back, warm violinist arms surrounding her shoulder and creamy legs at each of her sides.
The blonde ran her hands over them, the softness and tenderness of the younger woman's skin grabber her undivided attention if only for a few minutes.
"We should come back here after the wedding," the tomboy stated off handedly, looking up at the darkened horizon and slightly wondering when the sun would start showing itself.
She received a confirmation sound from the violinist behind her and ran her hands along those luscious thighs again.
Michiru giggle from behind her once more. "What you just said reminds me of what Jiro said during lunch a couple days ago," she stated with laughter and amusement in her voice.
Haruka smiled. "If anything he needs to get used to me being taken care of instead of him…"
"I'm sure he, of all people, knows that already koi…"
They sat in relative silence soon after, a slight wind from the ocean pulling whichever way around them. The beach house they both occupied sat no more than twenty meters away from the rushing shore and this morning would be the second day in a row in which Haruka had woken up from a fitful night's sleep and trudged out of bed, careful not to wake her sleeping partner who always seemed to know her presence was gone after twenty minutes, at which time she'd join her and they'd watch the sunrise together.
It seemed as if they could talk without talking—feel what the other's feeling without anything ever stated and she wouldn't have it any other way…only because the tomboy was never good with words to begin with, and Michiru understanding that meant the world to her.
"It's coming," the violinist stated softly from behind, causing her to smirk.
"Yeah, I hear that from you a lot…"
She received a playful slap on the arm and an exasperated kiss on the cheek as a low kind of laughter escaped from her.
"So full of it Haruka…"
"Yes, and you love me for it so don't complain!"
A contented sigh escaped out of the violinist making the blonde almost wish she could voice out loud that she wanted a painting of this moment, where they shared a beach chair on a warm morning in Okinawa in which waiting for the sunrise seems like the only chore they had in the world.
But reality was so far from it. Too far…
O-----O
They arrived at Tokyo Wednesday night and shimmied over to Haruka's Royal penthouse suite to stay the night. Several hours into the morning later and Michiru's phone rang out, the same way as it did the last time they were in the city, causing both of them to get up groggily from a too active night's "sleep" and separate after a morning breakfast with the violinist's mother who was the reason for the phone call.
She didn't ask any questions regarding Haruka's would be absence for the day which was good for the blonde because she didn't think she would've approved this not so tactical move.
Now, nearing lunch hour, she was getting closer to the undisclosed tea house as well and she was semi-surprised at herself for not feeling like a nervous wreck. She felt the little churns her stomach made, but all in all, she was feeling rather confident at talking to the elder male Kaioh. She wasn't expecting a miracle talk by all means… She just hoped the old man would listen to her as she voiced her concerns regarding his family and what it means to them for everyone to be in the same corner.
She turned right into the dirt caked road once more, pushing pass the tall hedges and moving into the gravel parking lot, situating her car into an empty space, and getting out, the feeling in her stomach growing in discomfort as she looked at the tea house nonchalantly.
She hoped he would actually give her the time of day to talk with her…
She walked pass the other cars with her hands in her pockets, over the bridge that overlooked the pristine lake behind the tea house and into the main entrance, the same maid that greeted her and Michiru some nights back eyeing her widely as she made her presence known.
"Is Kaioh-san here?" she asked, the tone of her voice and look on her face both hardened.
She noted how the woman before her gulped before nodding and heading into the house, a small, "Wait, please" the only thing trailing after her.
Haruka stood in place in silence for a few minutes, her heart beating steadily in her ears as she looked at the flowers and trees around her to let her mind wander by itself. Then, in the timeframe that seemed to take close to forever to pass, noise erupted from the doorway once more and the same woman came back with the same apprehensive look in her face.
"Please follow me," she stated meekly and with a bow accompanied.
To say that she was surprised was an understatement, but of course she wouldn't let that show. Nodding, she followed the woman into the tea house until they reached a shoji door. She opened the door for the blonde with another bow and olden sapphires glared steadily back at her as soon as she looked up, the discomfort inside her leaving, and in its place, the bitterness that accompanied his words that morning when she and Shina had overheard his tirades to his own family members.
She decided to quickly push that feeling down. She didn't want to seem stand offish to the old man…
She bowed instead and greeted entering as she did so. "Good morning, Kaioh-san."
"So arrogant…the younger generation," he stated loudly while still locking eyes with her. "So many just gallivant in here without a word or call."
"I'm sorry Kaioh-san," she said with another bow, parts of her already hating looking so low just for a conversation, but if it satiated the older man to look more dominant…if it could get him to talk…to hell with her pride. "I would've called—I seriously debated it actually. But I didn't know if you would stay and let me in or completely shut me down. The latter was no option…so I'm sorry if I intruded on a busy day—
"Make it quick," he interrupted, breathing a little loudly all of the sudden when there was no exertion from his end. "Being in the same room with someone like you is ailing for my health."
The tomboy bit her cheeks. She would have to make this quick and to the point. She wouldn't overstay her welcome… "Can you remember the day you got married?"
It wasn't what he was expecting which was a clear emotion to the blonde. His graying sapphires widened and an almost nostalgic look came upon them, until he shook his head and gave her another piercing glare.
"What about it?"
"It doesn't make you laugh at the irony of it all that everyone's become their father's father even though if it were truly up to the person himself that they wouldn't resort to the option they've made in the past?"
His features mirrored his earlier one of surprise and this time, no biting comment was made at his end.
Haruka could only look down at her socks, having taken off her shoes for mannerism reasons at the door.
"What struck me most, when Michiru and I visited last time, was that you were very adamant in voicing your opinion on the matter regarding the arranged marriage," she said lowly. "You wouldn't even let the event happen here for that reason…and now…" The blonde stopped momentarily if only to collect herself. "Now…just because I'm in the picture…all of what you said gets thrown out the window…
"I hate to think me that influential since I haven't done anything, but follow my heart in this ordeal, but because I'm a girl…and your granddaughter's a girl…you were willing to resort into an almost violent person—I'm sure so unlike you…But the thought and knowledge that it was there…it doesn't scare you one bit?"
He didn't answer her and she was almost glad of the silence at his end.
"I guess what I wanted to make sure you know and the main reason I'm here before you is that Michiru and I didn't plan this…and I hope you don't throw everything you believe your family as for this decision we've both made. Your son loves you…He puts you in such a high pedestal that he's more than willing to sacrifice his belief for you…and he's probably sad as hell that you either don't see it or you choose not to. Same goes for Shina Oba-san…
"I hope you don't think that everyone was happy when my relationship with your daughter was found out…In a twisted kind of irony, your son reacted a lot like you did. Angry, confused, and above all…he hated me. Which is understandable. I wasn't aiming to please him. I'm not aiming to please you. I'm not here to feed you words of pity or remorse, nor am I throwing a white flag. I just hate seeing a family so torn over something that I've done—
"Then yield."
The tomboy's fists automatically clenched in her pockets. Biting her bottom lip, she looked away and towards the view of the lake and muttered, "We are…"
She looked back at aged sapphires that bore through her emeralds.
"Not to confuse anyone on the matter, but we're not giving our feelings up for each other…" she continued, a troubled frown marring her handsome face. "We learned too long ago that it's better to accept what everyone wants and just go for it…because in the end, they'll have what they want…and we'll have each other…
"But…do you ever wonder what your life would be like if you were with the woman you wanted to be with in the beginning?"
Kei didn't answer her nor was she expecting him to. But the nostalgic look was back on his face and even more so the regret that Haruka hadn't seen before.
She smiled sadly. "Only two weeks ago, I conceded in letting Michiru go…for the sake of her happiness. Damned mine. If she were happy, it didn't matter what my end result was. But I'm glad she didn't give up on me. I'm glad we didn't stay as 'friends'. I'm glad…I would never feel the agony you must feel on a normal basis…asking, 'What if…'
"'What if I didn't obey my father and went with my heart?' 'What if I went…instead of stayed?' These questions…eat us up. It doesn't matter…that you're a man and I'm a woman. It doesn't matter who you are. If they're left unanswered, it eats us up…forever. Because that moment is gone…And you'll never know. Regardless of the amount of money we have…we can't ask time to go back just to be sure if we lived the life we wanted. But deep inside, you must know the answer to that…
"'Did I live the life I wanted?' If the answer is a negative one, I guess you can only blame yourself for it…for choosing the wrong options…for not trying hard enough…
"I guess my real question is if you died tomorrow Kaioh-san…have you lived the life you've wanted? You have…everything, a man could ask for in regards to just 'living.' You have the money, you have prosperity…you have the power to make a company thrive or die in a single decision. In…a normal person's viewpoint, you've led the perfect life. You weren't that person that made a legacy fall. So…you're alive right now…but have you actually lived?"
The elder male Kaioh was silent, looking at one side of the wall for the longest time. Haruka kept standing, her emeralds trained on the still man who more than anything looked broken in her eyes.
"Why wasn't she good enough?"
Sapphires turned back to her questioningly. "Who?"
"The girl…that you were so in love with," the blonde reiterated. "Why wasn't she good enough for your parents?"
"She didn't have the financial backing of a company on the rocks."
She nodded in understanding. "She was poor…or middle class. If…if they allowed you to be with her, how different do you think your life would've been?"
"Why do you care?" he spat looking very annoyed all of the sudden. "Are you here to poke holes into my past as if you mean something Tenoh-san or are you here just to goad me into making Kaioh-Miroku fall?"
"I have no intention of making you turn your decision regarding Kaioh-Miroku because at the end of the day my Michiru will marry Jiro-kun."
Kei stood up at his full height, a cane gripped tightly on his right hand. "Then what are you doing here?"
"I'm here to talk, Kaioh-san. I'm not here to fight with you or sway your decision in regards to your company because that's your business. I'll be receiving the crappy end of it, but I've decided that being with your granddaughter, regardless of what the public sees, is enough for me. I am not giving her up for you, for Kaioh-san, or Shina Oba-san. I'm not giving her up to Jiro-kun. What happens on Saturday is a ceremony binding the future of Kaioh-Miroku into stone. Michiru, Jiro-kun, and I are merely the sacrifice. But unlike you, I won't give my feelings up so easily.
"You only have one life…so live. And to live versus just living is like asking me to be with Michiru and not be with her…and I'd rather be with her than just live…because I would hate to see myself in the mirror fifty or sixty years from now and see someone like you."
Saddened emeralds clashed with angry sapphires before the young CEO looked away, the troubled look in her face not dissipating.
"If you can't love two people…don't just to appease your parents. You should reach out to what you want to do and damn the company or whoever else that thinks otherwise," Haruka stated quietly, pulling a piece of paper from her blazer pocket. "These were your words to your granddaughter…only a month back. They're words you've lived by your entire life because they're the ones you forsook. You wanted a Kaioh to be strong enough to say no? Michiru said no…She said it to you…And hypocritically enough…you were tested and failed all in the same morning…just like in your youth when you had to make the decision that would be the base of your entire life and didn't make the right one."
She shook her head in dismay.
"I'm sorry I'm a woman…I'm sorry if I'm not good enough. I'm sorry the woman you loved wasn't the rich heiress that your parents wanted…But all these things everyone asks for…are impossible to fulfill. I am a woman. I'm not changing for anyone…least of all for your wishes. I'm not good enough! There's a possibility I never will be. The woman you loved…wasn't rich…but I doubted you ever cared about something so superficial…so why care about me being a woman? Why care about reputation? Why care about things that'll only elude your thinking and take you back to square one where you didn't want to be in, in the first place?"
It was a rhetorical question they both knew the answer to, but the blonde felt she had overstayed her visit. She had a bachelor party to plan as well and a dinner rehearsal to attend tomorrow before the big day the next day. She had a lot in her hands… But this was her version of 'living' so she could only put on a dejected smile and walk towards the emotionally mixed face of Kaioh Kei.
She extended the piece of paper in her hand to him and smiled dismally. "It's the wedding of your only granddaughter. You shouldn't go there just to see its fruition, but be there as a family member for the event. You know what's best for her…That's the only viable reason I can see why you're so against us. And I completely understand that. But also understand that what we're doing is merely something two people that are in love do…and I don't think we need a better reason for our actions than that."
Soft emeralds and piercing sapphires met a final time, the wedding invitation under Haruka's fingertips taken softly away. Bowing a final time, she left the room with Kei still standing in place, gripping at the invitation with his bare hand.
O-----O
Haruka rubbed her eyes deeply as she parked the car into a familiar parking garage. An hour of driving back and forth from the city and talking with Michiru's grandfather had left her drained, but it wasn't over yet.
She promised herself, as well as Michiru, and mentally Jiro, that she would plan a bachelor party for him and in all honesty's sake, she's never attended one. She's had invitations…but that kind of atmosphere wasn't really her 'style' so she never joined in on the festivities. What she did know was someone who would know something about it and was also a good friend of Jiro's. She just hoped she's there and that they would be more than able to work together for at least today and tomorrow so that this whole thing can bear the right fruit she wanted. She wasn't the best person the last time they met, but had all the good reasons for it anyway…and if that was the reason she'd have to pursue this herself, it would be understandable…
A short elevator ride later, she walked towards a set of double doors and rapped on one of them, the same maid that greeted her a couple months back giving her a questioning look as she gave a small smile.
"Is…Shou-san here?"
The maid nodded. "She is, sir, but I believe she's…indisposed…"
Eww…She didn't have to know that. But she nodded nonetheless, "That's alright. Can you—
"Haruka?"
The uttering of her name caused her to lean her head into the doorway to see Shou Hikaru in nothing more than a flimsy, tiny, silky, and pink bathrobe.
"I hope you're not here for the reason that I think you're here for…" she muttered, looking at her with a little quirk of her brow.
The tomboy shook her head quickly. "No…I'm not here for…that…" Licking her lips, she looked up uncomfortably at the ceiling and back to caramel eyes. "I need your help…"
Thin, plucked blonde eyebrows moved higher in the smaller woman's forehead in curiosity. "About…?"
"Jiro-kun."
"Jiro? You're…in a first name basis with him?"
She was obviously surprised seeing as the last time the two of them were in the same room, death threats were coming out from both ends.
"A lot has happened since the party…but yeah. He and Michiru are scheduled to marry on Saturday—
"I know. I'm invited…"
"Oh, good. 'Cuz…I need your help in planning him a bachelor party."
Caramel eyes shot wide open. "Does he know?"
Haruka shook her head. "I was planning on just whisking him away after the dinner rehearsal tomorrow and then taking him to the party…wherever that'll be."
"You haven't started at all have you?"
"I wouldn't be here if I had a clear idea on where to start…" she muttered. "Plus seeing as he's one of your better friends, I thought you'd want a piece of the pie too."
"Oh god he needs to get laid," Hikaru grunted, motioning her in. "All he does is work. Even I can't get his pants off…Impossible man."
Haruka smirked. "Yeah, I completely agree."
She stepped into the younger woman's suite and followed her to the living room, a random guy walking out of her room with nothing, but his boxer briefs on. The blonde looked away before her breakfast, now completely turned into bile, forced itself upstream.
"Hikaru, I missed you…"
Apparently her vomit would make itself come up. He sounded whiny…and she really didn't want to be here all of the sudden…
"Yeah, I know," the strawberry blonde haired woman said with a shrug. "But you're dismissed. I'll call you tonight, but if I don't consider me too busy and wait. If I don't call after Saturday night…I'm not ever calling back."
He gave her a shocked look as Haruka could only bite an inward sigh back.
"Are you kidding me? You're tossing me for this matchstick?"
"I'll be downstairs in my car," the tomboy grunted, making her way out. "I'll give you fifteen. If you're not down by then, I'm leaving and doing this by myself…"
"Haruka!!" Hikaru yelled after her. "Fifteen minutes isn't long enough for a decent bath—
"Just shower!" she yelled back over her shoulder. "I'm not waiting for you like that sick puppy standing next to you!"
She didn't wait for a reply and shut the door after her.
O-----O
"First order of business…dancers."
Haruka nodded. "I completely agree."
"For that…we're definitely going to Paris Skyline. Good place if you're ever in the mood for that kind of—
"I'll pass," the tomboy said evenly. "Tell me where so I can feel accomplished before lunch."
Hikaru sat in the passenger side of her Ferrari as they sped around town, the smaller woman giving Haruka the directions she needed for their preferred destination.
Fifteen minutes and a short walk later, they entered the premises of Paris Skyline, a huge theatrical club in the middle of Ginza for burlesque performers. Having Hikaru was becoming fruitful, at least to the young CEO's end because the smaller woman was apparently well known, and that kind of notoriety in these kinds of places was invited as well as dispelled.
"Shou-san!" a bearded man greeted her as soon as they were given a private, dark, and very…erotic room.
Haruka remained standing and bowed to the man as soon as he and the caramel eyed woman hugged.
"I want…to purchase some of your girls for Friday night," she stated rather pointedly.
The man's eyes lit up in surprise. "Well…that kind of service…requires a bit of…pay…as well as an x amount of yen for any other…fees…included…" he stated, kind of stuttering a bit due to her forwardness.
But the smaller woman completely laughed it off. "Not like that Taku," she said in fake exasperation. "My friend's getting married soon and—
"Ahh…bachelor party…"
She nodded. "I'd like them to perform him a show…and if possible…get his gonads tied in knots…"
"Oh the latter will definitely be guaranteed," Taku replied with glee. "Let's get the girls out here shall we? How many are you thinking of?"
"Haruka?" she asked turning to the blonde.
Haruka merely shrugged. "Money isn't a problem," she said with a shrug. "I wouldn't want to compromise a night's performance or practice due to it though, so however much you're willing to lend is fine by me."
Taku gave her an impressed look. "Very gentlemanly indeed," he stated in a kind of purr. "But my girls only perform on Saturdays and one night won't change what they've been practicing all week. You may rent as many as your hands can hold."
The young CEO nodded and as soon as she did, one lone spotlight shone into the mini stage situated at the front of the room and there appeared a woman that was more naked than she thought a stranger should've been.
"We'll have topless performances right?" Hikaru asked, eyeing at the woman appreciatively while sitting down on one of the plush, red sofas.
"Topless…bottomless, whatever you'd like. As long as they're doing the touching, it's fine by me. I'll be there to monitor too, of course," Taku answered.
Haruka sat at the other sofa and looked at the other blonde woman in the room with a questioning look.
"They're all lined up at the back, so say yes and they're yours for Friday. Say no and the line will keep moving forward."
"Yes…" both blondes stated in unison…and it almost felt as if she was cheating on Michiru just by being in that room.
O-----O
To say that she was surprised was an understatement.
"Hey koi, good afternoon," Haruka greeted her with a kiss in the forehead and a bow to her mother who was seated on the table they had been waiting in for the last five minutes.
"Hey," she answered softly, and gazed back into sheepish caramel eyes.
"Oh, sorry, I forgot she was there," the tomboy stated off handedly causing the violinist to slap her arm playfully. Grinning at her, the taller woman enveloped her waist and continued, "Shou-san's helping me put together Jiro-kun's party. I figured she's known him longer as well as good friends with him so…getting her help wouldn't be a bad idea…considering I have a day and half to plan it…"
She nodded wordlessly and bowed to the other blonde woman. "Thank you Hikaru-san. I'm sure Jiro'll appreciate it when he finds out."
Hikaru gave an almost maniacal grin. "Oh I'm sure he will…We just got done picking him dancers…I'm pretty sure he'll appreciate most of them."
Haruka grinned as well causing Michiru to feel just a little unsure as to what the two blonde's intent was in regards to the onyx eyed man's party. All she knew was that the feel of the tomboy's hands around her waist had dispelled any thoughts gracing her mind that had led her astray if only for a few seconds.
"You're not done then I presume?" she asked as they made their way to the table, Shina and Keiko waiting there for them.
The young CEO shook her head. "We'll definitely use one of the free penthouses over at the Royal 'cuz of its modern uses for the party itself, but we need to visit a few more places to make sure everything looks right."
"We have to contact his friends too," the caramel eyed woman added. "I know some of them seeing as he's introduced some to me and we've gone a little bit more…"
Haruka sighed outwardly as Michiru giggled with her hand over her quirked lips.
"But…I'd have to get the phone numbers for his other friends from them too…" she continued with a little sigh. "So yeah…The next couple of days are going to be pretty busy. He deserves it though…or maybe not…considering what we're planning for him…"
As soon as the introductions were made, they started ordering lunch, the restaurant they were in surprising the blonde a little. It was Sushi-ko, the sushi restaurant in which she had met Michiru's family a little over two months back… It brought her mixed feelings, the highest being one of nostalgia because this was where she got hit by a rock and found she had more feelings for the violinist than her mind was letting on.
While Chef Kakeru made their sushi, they sat around the bar area, the restaurant devoid of anymore people other than the five of them and the staff.
"So what's this I hear about Jiro-kun?" Shina asked humouredly.
"Haruka's idea. A bachelor party," the violinist answered, swiping a hand across the blonde's short unscrupulous hair. "She felt he needed one so she asked me about it during our trip."
"Can you make sure he doesn't have anything planned Friday night after dinner rehearsals please, Oba-san?" the tomboy asked, both hands clasped before her.
The elder female Kaioh gave a brief, amused laugh and nodded. "I'm pretty sure that can be arranged. I doubt there's much to do in Kaioh-Miroku that night anyway…"
Haruka gave a thankful bow and started digging on her food as soon as it came. Michiru gave her an endearing look before placing her head over her shoulder.
"You alright?" the tomboy asked, clasping a piece of raw tuna belly sashimi with her chopsticks and hovering it over the smaller woman's face.
She opened her mouth and invited the food in, smiling at the blonde as she did so. Nodding, she sat up a little straighter and began eating lunch as well.
"Sorry I didn't tell you ahead of time," the young CEO said softly and quietly. "I guess I should've told you, but…I went with no real intention other than getting Shou-san's help and—
The violinist quieted her with her index finger over her soft lips. With a shake of her head and an even bigger smile, she took some of her sashimi and fed it to the taller woman as well.
"No worries Haruka," she said softly. "I completely understand."
"So insensitive…" Hikaru muttered to the right of the blonde, and then elbowed her. "You didn't tell Michiru you were getting my help for this? You were setting me up again—
"You're not important enough for me to set up—
"Haruka…"
"Well I'm glad someone could finally tame the great playboy beast Michiru," the caramel eyed woman added. "Although now, we really can talk about how good she is in bed, ne?"
Shina coughed loudly causing the table to go quiet and for Haruka to turn completely beat red.
"That is true though," Keiko said off handedly, sitting at the elder female Kaioh's left side. "Out of the four women you're having lunch with today, you've successfully bedded three of them. Does that three out of four ratio count for the Japanese population at all Haruka?"
"I am not a playboy!" the young CEO yelled again with her lover beside her rubbing her back. "Oba-san…tell them to stop. We're having lunch!"
The gray eyed woman laughed and drank some of her tea down. "I know a losing battle when I see it Haruka-san…and this for you would be one. Although…three out of four sounds very convincing from where I'm sitting…I just wished Shinji had that kind of stamina when we were still children…"
"Okay…moving on…please?" Michiru asked as laughter erupted from the table.
O-----O
"You alright?"
Haruka sighed loudly and unbuttoned her dress shirt with a nod. The violinist opened the flap of the blanket to their bed and as soon as she took her pants off, leaving only her underwear on, she crawled over and into the waiting arms of the aqua haired woman.
"Tired…" she muttered, her eyes closing as soon as she felt warm arms embrace her and begin playing with her hair. "Was your day fruitful?"
Michiru nodded and kissed her on the forehead. "Keiko-san, Okaa-san and I will be overseeing the decorations at the garden tomorrow. Weather's predicted to be fair the entire week so I don't think it'll be an issue. Plus the flowers will be flying in refrigerated from France and that has to be delicately taken care of so…"
"Sounds troublesome…"
The violinist laughed. "Nh…but it's worth it since it'll make the entire place glow. I just wished I was planning the real wedding I wanted."
Emeralds opened to a saddened smile as strong arms surrounded the younger woman's smooth, small waist. The taller woman propped herself up on her elbows over and looked down at the sad smile beneath her, Michiru's hand coming up to caress her cheek as well.
"How was your talk with Ojii-san?"
Haruka sighed once more. "I'm not sure…I didn't want to sound so combative, but I think that's how I came across as…I got to say what I wanted to him though so, if anything, I hope he takes it into consideration."
"You asked Okaa-san for that extra invitation today…for him?"
The tomboy nodded. "I wanted him to feel invited for the event—that its meaning isn't something over business, but moreover a family member getting married and he should be there if only for that reason…although he has his ulterior motives. I doubt I changed his mind much…" She smiled. "You Kaiohs and your pride…"
She dipped down and nuzzled on the smaller woman's neck while her hands moved and poking around the soft spots of her waist, causing Michiru to laugh loudly and squirm under her strong hold.
"Haruka! Tickles!!" she squealed and pushed her body off to no avail.
"Maybe I should just try this method…Just tickle him til his body breaks…wait…not good…it'll happen…"
The violinist laughed harder as her tickling increased and jokes repeatedly came out of her mouth. Then, after a few more minutes the assault stopped, leaving them both clawing out of the twisted blanket for air and looking at each other warmly.
The aqua haired woman pushed herself up and straddled the blonde, dipping low and pushing loose strands of aqua curls behind her ears as they met in the middle for a slow, sensual kiss. And it was as if tomorrow wasn't coming, nor the day after because it signaled the beginning of the end. But in all honesty's sake, neither women cared about it because they would know the end result…and if they were to be together…then by all means, just let it come already.
O-----O
Penthouse Suite D of the Royal Condominium Tower was very ready. There was enough food to feed the army which seemed like the basis of Jiro's friends anyway. They were all very…fraternity like…which made Haruka sort of wonder where the onyx eyed man fell into the picture seeing as he wasn't big and bulky like a lot of them. There were even foreigners which was weird for her until Hikaru stated off handedly that he had studied abroad for well over four years which would make sense given that he would be in charge of the future of an empire.
Nevertheless, the majority of them had arrived already and the burlesque dancers were busy, Taku was in one corning eyeing the male eye candy all around the room, and a few of the people already made the bar at one end of the suite their home and final resting place for the night.
She and Hikaru did well if she had the right to gloat.
There were waitresses that served food as well as random party platters that littered the tables all across the huge suite. The open layout plan was perfect for the party as well given that a lot of the men were boisterous and if Haruka didn't know she owned this and could very well pay for the damages the next day, she would've stopped the entire thing already. Jiro wasn't even there yet for crying out loud!
"You're going to be alright babysitting here while I'm gone?"
The smaller blonde woman smirked at all the loose people in the room making emeralds roll in exasperation.
"Shou…you're here to work…not to play," she reminded loudly over the pulsating music.
The lights had effectively turned off and strobe lights flipped on to replace its absence.
"Yeah, yeah I hear you," Hikaru said off handedly, starting to dance in place.
"I'm leaving for the dinner rehearsal… Make sure everyone's comfortable…"
"Will do…" she purred and that was her definite cue to leave. She just hoped she and Jiro wouldn't arrive to a hellish orgy…or something like that.
She shuddered at the thought and went out, closing the double doors and mildly hearing the base and tremor from the loud surround sound. There were no neighbors seeing as she lived in penthouse suite C, there was no penthouse suite E, and anyone lower or higher wouldn't be able to hear much of anything going on because of the type of windows, walls, and doors that had been built for this particular building.
She was just getting out of the parking lot when her phone rang and an unfamiliar number lit on the screen.
"Yeah?" she asked as she made her way into the busy nightlife of Tokyo.
"Where are you?"
"Jiro-kun?"
"Yeah! We're waiting for you and the priest. You didn't happen to kidnap him did you?"
"That's…a pretty good idea now that you mention it," Haruka stated with a grin. "But no…I'm coming over right now. I need to talk to you about something by the way so, clear your schedule after the rehearsal. We'll have dinner and—
"You dolt…it's called a 'dinner rehearsal' because we have dinner afterwards…"
She rolled her eyes. "Fine…we'll go out for coffee…Just…schedule me in afterwards."
"Aww you missed me huh?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself. See you guys in a bit. How's Michiru by the way?"
"Good. She's talking to the decorator. They're just getting done now. She looks tired as hell though…probably needs you right about now."
"Yeah, I'm comin'."
She turned off her phone and sped across town to the huge garden, seeing it light up as she entered the parking lot. Her mouth opened in awe at the place and after getting out of her car, she could just stand there for a little while to take the entire thing in.
The main teahouse loomed in the side of the entire garden seemingly out of place from the glitter and glow emitted by the warm lamplights placed strategically all over the vicinity. Stepping down into the garden itself, the blonde took note of the many white, hand made, wooden arches over the entire walkway littered with fresh roses of many colors littering the structure as well as white Christmas lights and the smell of the flowers reaching her nostrils heavenly. To her side were more flowers, planted by the establishment itself and after another glowing, rose filled arch, she stood in front of what looked like a maitre d' and two men and women beside him.
Beyond and below them was an entire field full of tables and chairs. She noted the extra long tables to the side, probably for the food and refreshments after the event, and the triangular wooden stage to the end nearest her. Lanterns, lamps, and more Christmas lights littered the huge area as well showing the two isolated tents farther north that would be where all the people involved with the actual ceremony would be staying for their make up and overall wait before the event would start.
"Name, sir?" the maitre d' asked with a kind smile.
To Haruka's left and right were similar paths filled with arched roses leading all the way down pass the reception area and into the seating area for the ceremony itself.
She nodded. "Tenoh Haruka."
He gave a small nod as he ticked off her name on the list and nodded to one of the women to his right. "Bride."
A cute girl in her twenties beside one of the men to her left bowed and led her to the left side, looping her arm around her and walking silently with her down the path. Passing many more arches and lights, she gave the girl an inquiring look.
"Is the other side for the groom?"
She gave a small nod and smile. "Yes, sir. The left is for the bride's family members and the right path is for the groom's. Both paths will move the guests directly pass the reception area and into the ceremony, right into their assigned seats."
She nodded and looked back, seeing the field for the reception area sunken in comparison to the area the maitre d' was situated who looked to be about twenty five feet above them.
Haruka smirked. "They sure made use of the flowers."
"It's very beautiful," the girl looped in her arms swooned. "I wish my wedding would even scratch the surface of this one."
Her smirk lowered somewhat as the tent where the bride would be situated came into view. And then, as if sensing she was there, Michiru came out from its side, first looking around, and then finally catching her glance. They smiled wordlessly at one another, the smaller woman's more tired than the blonde's.
"I'm sure yours will…," the tomboy stated softly. "Given the correct intention, your wedding will surpass this one by a long shot…"
The girl looked at her questioningly, but her glance with the violinist wouldn't falter. A few seconds later, the bride to be stood in front of them and gave a thankful bow to the usher.
"I'll take it from here," she said causing the other woman to bow and make her way back, but not before giving them an inquiring look as Michiru pressed herself against the taller woman into a tired hug.
"Looks beautiful, Michiru. You did a great job," the blonde complimented, making her smile just a bit wider.
They began making their way into the ceremony area, Jiro, both Kaiohs, their wedding planner, and Jiro's family situated at the very front, sitting at the groom's side.
Rows of seats littered both the right and the left of where the main aisle was, marine blue ribbons strung along the left seats and green ones to the right. To the very front were three high back chairs, one for each the bride, the groom, and the priest and to the left, passed the many flowers in full bloom was a seat for the orchestra. Complimenting that was the seating arrangement farther to the right where the choir would be standing and sitting, passed many more flowers and glowing lights.
What made the entire thing seemingly magical was the small lake at the very end of the entire garden. The walkways led deeper into the actual garden where a bridge was structured over a small lake, the lotus flowers and lily pads littering the waters lit with a candlelight glow from the inside of a makeshift container placed in the middle of the enormous leaves. It gave the lake a romantic and warm hearting glow and from where Haruka was standing, she wished there was enough time for her and Michiru tonight to at least walk over the bridge and see the fruits of her love's labor closer.
"You!"
Jiro's voice took her out of her reverie as she gave him a raised eyebrow.
"You're lucky the priest didn't get here before you!"
She rolled her emerald eyes as the onyx eyed man came up to them and gave her a little pat in the shoulder.
"Come meet the rest of my family. They know a lot about you, but I can't say you know much about 'em…especially my parents…"
Haruka nodded and with both the bride and groom, walked to where their families were situated.
"Otou-sama, Okaa-sama, this is Tenoh Haruka. The…what are you?" he asked with a frown. "Maid of honor or best man?"
"Maid of honor," she stated and bowed to the Sugiuras before her.
"Yeah, Michiru's maid of honor. Haruka-san, my mother," he introduced, swiping his hand over a woman with long reddish brown hair and sparkling green eyes. "And my father," he continued, this time to the direction of a balding black haired, onyx eyed man who stood height to height with her.
They all shared a respectable bow with Jiro grinning from ear to ear at the end. "And yeah, you know my little sister already."
"Tch…" Hanako gave a small roll of the eyes and waved pleasantly at her which she returned.
She gave a bow to each of the Kaiohs as well, as Shinji placed an arm good naturedly over her shoulders.
"We're waiting for the priest so we can start with the preparations, but what do you think about the entire thing in general?"
"Line up more ushers for tomorrow!" Keiko's voice sounded over his question, making him smirk. "I better have enough for all the guests!"
"It looks really good," Haruka stated with a smile and nod. "The lake looks beautiful. It'll be alright to leave it this way until tomorrow though?"
Shina shook her head from her seat. "We have a lot of people coming in at the end of the rehearsal to put everything perishable away. There are a lot of extra flowers as well so if some were to wilt, it won't be a catastrophe."
The blonde nodded in understanding.
"Were you able to finish…whatever it is you're busy doing by the way?" Gray eyes twinkled amusement at the question.
The tomboy smirked, causing Michiru to shake her head in exasperation, the smile on her face showing her amusement more than anything.
"Yup…It's actually started…last time I left so…"
Jiro gave a questioning look at their cryptic conversation as Haruka looked up at him.
"Coffee…afterwards. You game?"
He nodded. "Sure…Was there something else you needed to talk about?"
The young CEO shook her head. "Just want to spend some quality time with the groom before the big day tomorrow."
The onyx eyed man gave her a suspicious look, but nodded nonetheless.
Another ten minutes passed and finally, the priest had arrived, shocking all, but Shinji and Shina who had asked for the favor. He was the Cardinal Archbishop of Tokyo and more than that, the Japanese Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Low bows were given at his presence as he himself bowed in apology for the tardiness, and soon after, the rehearsal began.
He was obviously good friends with the two CEOs of Kaioh-Miroku, sharing a few pointed laughter with Shinji as he directed and showed what would happen in the congregation. And to the blonde who seemed almost out of place, the entire thing looked surreal.
Even if it was a rehearsal, she could finally see it…and the familiar agonizing beating of her heart became apparent to her body as well as her ears as she gazed at the walking figure of her lover going down the aisle with her arm looped around her father's. They shared a small glance, no smile coming from either end as Shinji departed from her and gave her arms to Jiro who was waiting with a sheepish smile to the right of the bishop.
To make it seem less weird, she and Hanako were appointed both maid of honor and best man jobs. She would stand right next to Jiro at the beginning of the ceremony and hold both of their rings, but would stand next to Michiru and accompany her in the middle when needed.
What was obviously hardest to watch for the tomboy was the fake I do's that would mirror the real ones concerning tomorrow. She couldn't stand to watch it even at her seat so with her head down low and glowering at the bruised grass beneath her repeatedly shaking feet, she bit the nervous sigh that wanted to come out of her and remained a silent wreck. Warm hands patted her shoulder as she turned to her left and saw a small smile coming out of Shina's visage…one she couldn't mirror back.
It took a little more than two hours to get everything right leaving everyone exhausted for the night and wanting nothing more than to leave the vicinity and to leave "dinner" at another time.
"I promise I will be more than on time tomorrow night," the bishop said with a smile and wrinkled features and shared a bow with everyone again before taking his leave for the night.
Haruka desperately wanted to leave already. Sharing a distressed look with Michiru, the latter stepped down to her and gave her a consoling hug.
"We have to clean up back here, but go ahead and take Jiro out, alright?" she asked, her eyes asking the question of the blonde's well being without ever voicing it.
The tomboy nodded and gave her a peck on the lips. "Come on by afterwards. You'll be staying at my penthouse anyway right?" she asked whisperingly into her ear as they shared a hug.
The violinist nodded and then gave her an alarmed look. "It's going to be at your penthouse?" she asked with a shrill whisper, a disbelieving look marring her beautiful face.
The blonde grinned and shook her head before anymore thoughts eluded the smaller woman. "Penthouse suite D. Come on over."
Grasping her cheek, Michiru gave her the same worried look as before. "Are you alright though?"
Haruka could only smile and close her eyes, hugging her tighter. "Make me feel better later…" she stated huskily, earning a quick nod of understanding.
They shared one last quick kiss before Jiro who was standing to the side with his parents was motioned to join them. A quick goodbye to the parents later and both of them jogged back up to the parking lot, sharing their good nights with the ushers and maitre d' that they passed.
"So coffee right?" Jiro asked as they got in her Ferrari and settled in.
The blonde smirked. "Yeah…coffee. By the way…your parents know about—
"Yup," the onyx eyed man stated with a nod. "As long as I'm fine with it, they don't have much of a say."
He shrugged as Haruka smirked and turned on the car. "We're stopping by at my penthouse by the way. I want to grab something before we go out for…coffee…"
"Alright," the tall man answered unsurely giving her a weird look.
They shared a pleasant conversation in the car, Jiro inquiring about Okinawa and the tomboy raving about it to the point where the red haired man seemed kind of down.
"I wanted to go," he muttered with a kind of pout, circling the dashboard with his index finger timidly.
Emeralds rolled at the sight of him as she parked her car in the Royal Condominium Tower's garage.
"Come on…" she called and they both moved out of the car and walked into the elevator.
Jiro looked up at the red bold letters and looked at her strangely. "D? Aren't you…in C?"
Haruka smirked. She didn't think he'd remember something like that. Looking at the keycard in her hand weirdly, she shrugged. "It may have misread it or something," she lied easily, looking up at the bold red letters with him. "I'll try swiping it again outside when it opens."
The tall man nodded understandingly, but all that left him as soon as the elevator door slid out. Topless women greeted them as soon as the door binged open causing onyx eyes to widen in surprise. The blonde pointed wordlessly to him which caused all ten of them waiting for him to flock the elevator, the tall woman getting out of the way before getting swamped as well. The weight occupancy of the elevator sounded causing her to laugh loudly, joining Hikaru who was smiling smugly at the doorway to the penthouse itself.
"Thanks for the text warning," the small blonde woman stated while twirling her phone with her fingers.
Haruka grinned. "He will so hate us by tomorrow…"
"Guys! I can't breathe!" Jiro yelled from inside, the repeated buzzing of the elevator imminent to everyone's ears. "Can you—oh! Stop! Wait! Haruka-san!! Not in an elevator!!"
"Are you a man or not? You act like you don't have balls!" the blonde yelled from the doorway.
Red hair accompanied with the head that came with it popped out of the entangled bodies as he gave a helpless look. "I'm all for it, but I'm getting really claustrophobic!"
The two blondes could only laugh loudly at his situation.
Twenty minutes and a lot of greetings later, Jiro and Haruka stood over at the beverage site, the former giving bows of thanks to the blonde.
"It was really nice of you to do this for me," he said with a smile.
Haruka grinned at the red lipstick marks trailing all over his face that he hadn't noticed yet and gave his words a wave of dismissal. Turning to the punch bowl, even she could smell the alcohol reeking out of it, causing both her and the tall man to look at each other inquiringly.
"Shou!" the blonde called, looking over the busy dancing bodies all over the spacious living room floor.
Her little body came out of that crowd as she made her way to them with a questioning look.
"This is spiked right?"
She gave a devilish grin and then a kiss to Jiro's cheek. "Jiro…I promise you will get drunk tonight," she said pointedly. "You need to loosen up so…I decided to help you a bit. The bar is over there." She pointed to the other end of the room before placing her attention back to him. "I spiked everything that looks even remotely close to non-alcoholic and…got one of your friends who happens to be a plumber to turn off the water until further notice. The only water running is the one in the bathrooms and the toilet and I would rather have you drink that, than kiddy drinks."
A pair of emeralds and onyxes widened at her statement causing her to smirk.
"Oh…evil…" Haruka stated off handedly, twisted the cap off a water bottle that looked heavenly to the tall man right about now and drank off of it.
"Haruka-san—
"Go to the toilet if you want water…" she said with a smirk of her own, getting a high five from the other blonde woman.
He glared at both of them and downed the "punch" in his hand, scrunching his face at the amount of bitter alcohol he had just drained.
"Yeah!!!" Hikaru yelled and pulled him to the dance floor. "Come on groom! You need to loosen up. Taku! Get me some girls here!"
At her request, three rather scantily clad women hovered over the two of them and not a moment too soon, they were engulfed in the sea of bodies as they made their way to the corner of the dance floor.
Haruka walked around the pulsating dance floor and made her way to the bar where a few people were busy drinking and socializing. The bartender gave her a small asking nod, but she just lifted her water bottle. Sitting down on one of the empty stools, she gulped some more of it down and nodded at Taku as he made his way to her.
"Tenoh-san," he greeted rather gaily. "What do you think so far?"
She smirked at the overall rowdiness of the vicinity and nodded. "It's good. But umm…I'm more concerned about…"
She trailed off as he gave a sly smirk. "Oh, that's more than ready. Do not even worry about it."
She nodded once more in amusement. "Good."
The music changed to an even faster pace causing the crowd to yell in fervor. The tomboy knew Jiro didn't have this many friends to begin with and had the inkling that the smaller blonde had invited more than necessary. It was alright though. The ambience and energy was uplifting and loud…something, she felt, Jiro needed every now and then, but most importantly today.
As the night dwindled on, she met with Hikaru every now and then as she made her way diligently in and out of the rowdy dance floor.
"How's our little boy doing?" she asked as she made her way into the bar to ask for a couple more beers.
"I'm trying to shove as much alcohol as I can right now," she yelled over the music, a little intoxicated herself. "His tolerance is pretty high…I'm kind of surprised…"
"Haruka-saaaaan!!"
Her attention swiveled to the direction of her slurred name as she gave a smirk to Jiro, his dress shirt completely unbuttoned and showing his white wife beater inside, and his silky tie tied loosely over his forehead, looking like a normal drunk, albeit young, salary man. Haruka suppressed a laugh.
He stumbled over to her, his eyes a little glazed and threw an arm over her shoulder. She wrinkled her nose at the smell he came with and dismissed some girls who trailed after him.
"Why aren't you dancing?" he asked as Hikaru passed him another shot of an amber liquid.
Blonde eyebrows rose up as he downed it as soon as his hand had properly gripped the glass.
"I'm fine right here," she answered loudly, causing him to nod vigorously in understanding. "Have fun! The burlesque show is about to start by the way so when the music stops, don't be so disappointed!"
He nodded again and gave her a large grin. "I love you man!"
"Oh god, okay," the blonde muttered and patted him in the shoulder as he half hugged her tighter.
"I really, really do!"
She sighed. He was in the obvious I love you phase. She wondered briefly if he'll pass over the, I hate you phase soon because he was too close and she didn't really want to judo throw him to the floor just to get him off…
"Get him off! Too close!" she yelled at Hikaru who giggled at their one sided half hug.
"Come Jiro!" she goaded and waved another glass of a clear liquid to his face this time. "The burlesque show's about to start…"
And just as she said this, the music came to a sudden halt making the crowd in the dance floor moan in disappointment.
"Let's clear the middle floor for a second," the DJ stated over the microphone. "Paris Skyline's ever famous burlesque crew the Rocket Gals are about to make their performance."
Shouts of joy rang out from the crowd as chairs from all over the side of the room were deposited to the middle haphazardly. Haruka smirked at the overall chaos the announcement brought and chugged the rest of her water down. Looking at the front and center, she saw Jiro seated by Hikaru and soon after, the lights came off and sensual music filled the air.
She smirked as one of the dancers targeted the groom single handedly while the rest of the women, all wearing nothing, but very revealing g-strings, waist length stockings, and high heels all colored in a sleek black kept the background choreography alive.
"Interesting…"
Her lover's familiar voice and scent got her attention and she swiveled her body on the stool to turn, getting a look of amusement and surprise from the violinist. They shared a hug and soon after the blonde pulled her into her lap, resting her chin over her smooth shoulder and watching the performance with her.
"He sure is enjoying himself," Michiru said with humor in her voice, causing her to laugh as well.
"Shou got him drunk…I think she's aiming to get him wasted…"
"Will he be alright for tomorrow?" she asked a little worriedly.
Haruka could only laugh, a shrug trailing her amusement after. "Let's hope so…"
Thirty minutes later and the erotic dance came to a halt, the general crowd whooping in yells of joy and Jiro in the front of it all applauding in a standing ovation.
Hikaru grabbed the mic from the DJ causing everyone to go silent. "We have one more treat for the groom before the party starts again," she stated, the mischievous twinkle in her eye unmissed by the Michiru and Haruka. Looking over to the bar and waving at the violinist, she continued, "Tenoh-san, come over here and do the honors please."
The aqua haired woman gave the tomboy an inquiring look as she just gave her an amused smirk.
"He'll so hate me…" she said cryptically as the smaller woman got off her and she made her way to the dance floor.
A rowdy applause was given to her invited presence, Jiro starting it wholeheartedly.
"Sit down," she commanded and pushed his shoulders down to the waiting wooded chair.
He gave her a semi-glazed look as she pulled out a black long piece of cloth from her pants pockets.
"Hands behind the chair," she commanded again, getting an ooooh expression from the crowd.
Jiro gave her a smirk and folded both of his hands behind the chair. Making her way around, she knotted his hands in place along with the full length back of the chair providing him zero movement and the smile to waver a little lower in discomfort.
Then a tall woman in what looked to be a dominatrix suit complete with a whip stood beside the tomboy and gave him a master to slave look over. He jumped with glee from his seated position as the crowd behind him yelled in agreement.
"One more," Haruka stated before things got out of hand.
Walking behind the tall man, she untied the silk tie around his forehead and placed it over his eyes, binding it in place tightly.
"Can you see?" she asked as she stood next to him.
A huge grin passed over his face as he shook his head vigorously.
Turning around, the blonde smirked widely. "Alright Taku…let's start!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, a huge man came out of the backroom wearing nothing, but a skimpy black thong. The general crowd, mostly being men, gave a disgusted reply as Jiro, with the blindfold still in his eye swiveled his head to the direction of the noise. He passed Michiru who was giggling into her hand madly and as he passed Haruka, she gave a small shiver and rubbed her eyes roughly in hopes to dispel the scene out of her head. But the show wasn't over yet, so she made her way to an amused albeit, unamused violist who could only laugh while shaking her head at her.
"He…will hate you."
"I know…"
A slow, saxophone filled song permeated the air as the muscley man began dancing erotically to the center of the stage, the entire crowd going quiet in horror and a low bass joining the beat right after. Everyone could just watch in awe as the man in no more than his skimpy thongs placed his behind on the groom's lap and grinded expertly down, earning whoops of praise from the women and many burlesque dancers in the room.
"Oh my God this is soooo wrong," Haruka stated with a guilty grin, but it was like watching a train wreck. You didn't want to…but you had to…
And the worst part of it all was that Jiro was in the middle of it all, oblivious so therefore enjoying it. He yelled random yeahs every now and then, the crowd around him laughing more than anything.
Five minutes of sultry, disgusting, and funny unintentional male to male action later, and the song finished, the male exotic dancer sitting on him with a mic in hand to put the proverbial cherry on top, so to speak.
The tomboy got up again and made her way to the back of the tall man's chair, untying the blindfold over his eyes slowly.
As soon as the black silky tie fell off, the dancer smiled slyly at the grin that dropped all too quickly from the red haired man's face and asked, "Did you enjoy that as much as I did?" in the lowest, most sensual voice, but obviously male voice anyone in the room had ever heard.
"Oh…my…GOD!!!" Jiro yelled in disgust and began shaking the bonds in his hands off, throwing Hikaru who was laughing and beside herself a dirty look and at Haruka who was grinning at him from ear to ear right next to her. "I hate you!! Oh my god I hate both of you!!" he yelled, and gave the man on him a dirty stare. "Get the hell off!!"
The blonde laughed. She did get to see his I hate you phase after all…although he seemed more sober now than he did a little while ago…
AN: OC bashing yay! It's7:15 in the morning and I've only finished writing…/sigh. My girlfriend is mad at all of you by the way. She says you're responsible for taking me away on our Fridays. Instead of hanging out with her and playing WoW, I resort to writing instead. :P Sorry bear, one more chapter and it's all over. Sorry if this chappy seemed kind of quick and…yeah…quick xD But it was either this or nothing and I hope the all nighter I just spent writing this chapter is appreciated with constructive criticism more than ZOMG THAT SUCKED I HATED IT AND I DUNNO WHY replies... haha. I'll probably have to go through it at the end to make the necessary adjustments anyway…/sigh. Alright…I'm tired 'cuz I haven't slept so let's get on w/ the one sided convos!
My Veggie Burger: Yeah sorry for the cavities. It happens when fluff is all that's in my mind…Glad you liked Shina's talk with Haruka and Shinji will actually have his before the actual wedding so we'll see how that goes. Sorry if the convo w/ Haruka and gramps wasn't much. I liked the scene, but not at the same time. There's something lacking I suppose…maybe it needs more emotion…sorry I'm just talking to myself now more than anything…-.- Finals came and went and I probably passed but I'm not worried cuz if I didn't that'd be ridiculous…and hope you enjoyed this as well, even though it's kind of late going out.
t.: Haven't watched wanted yet, and I'm pretty sure my cousin only watched it twice for the Angelina scene…so…we'll see. I'll watch it if someone ever rents it XD But no! Yes…I will have a happy ending…haha. It should be a good ending that everyone will hopefully like… but I think I know what you mean about being able to clearly see the cave scene with my head…I was able to do it too oddly enough…before writing it. Maybe a stole it from a movie w/o knowing it?? XD Bachelor party was fun to write seeing as Jiro…poor, poor Jiro got tricked into it and you shouldn't dread the ending.
James Birdsong: Yay!! /Bow… XD
jadedlilgirl: O.O I try to write as much as I can, but hopefully this satiated this week. You reviewed twice! But thank you for signing in nonetheless…I will be definitely updating now…or soon…I'm a few hours late xD Jiro…no…he can't just die. Although he definitely wants to kill two certain blondes right about now. I don't like the fact that I'm becoming the reason for people's mental stability…it makes me responsible for possible suicide rates going up in the country/world.
notsoimportant: Oh trust me, I love my happy endings. Last time I stayed up all night just to read a crappy one, I almost chucked my desktop out the window haha. There will only be one ending and it'll be a happy one.
Mantaray: Ahh x-mas…I need to go shopping -.- I…do I have anymore up my sleeve? I think my creative juices had stopped flowing…haha. Don't dread the next chapter…I believe it's the ending so…yeah…
philk: Yes, thank you for understanding my AN the way I wanted my readers to XD (Partially my fault since I didn't write it correctly anyway…) Oh trust me, resolution is coming day of, not day before and as you can see…Jiro got his bachelor party. You're right, Haruka is saying "I love you" more to Michiru, but I feel the times she says it don't need to merit an "I love you too" reply so…that's why she has more "I love yous" than her lover. Haha…he got burlesque dancers…as well as an exotic male one…I'm pretty sure he's hating Haruka and Hikaru right about now…
Kilohe: Almost in tears…Can't help it if you're heart's made of stone I suppose :P j/k sorry if I disappointed with Kei though. I wanted to fit a lot of events in one chapter so I guess this is what happens when I go fast with my story haha.
AlterEgoErin: the bachelor party was interestingly fun. Glad you liked the cave scene and the meaning that came with it. Poetry in prose is always invited haha.
mario123: I'm glad you like the story and I'm glad you didn't go ahead and rip my head off and shove it in indecent places too…cuz that would stop me from writing…and I don't think anyone would appreciate it…me included. Glad you like Jiro's character as well. He was definitely fun to mold.
wolvesorrow: What other shoe? Lies! I dunno what you're talking about. You'd think w/ the amount of crap they'd gone through it's enough, but I think Murphy's your friend more than mine! Jiro is loved by all…and after this chapter…laughed by all as well.
Black Caballiere: Ahh very, very well said. I completely agree.
Swinging Cloud: You stay up to read it, I stay up to write it, yay! -.- I need sleeeep. XD It's not my fault my story's not hitting you back up…maybe your skills on courting it needs to level up first? It's gotten a lot of fans by now and it's rather spoiled so it might be looking for something more short term rather than long…for now…XD Decent smut…lies! The discomfort in my tummy raises just from the word smut…haha…ok no not really, but still… I'm glad you don't like the "happy ending" I was hinting at all story long because it would've disappointed you if that was where I was really aiming for which would've SUCKED BALLS…but yeah…haha. Glad we got it all queered up and I'll see you soon as well.
petiyaka: The fearless and sarcastic CEO came back somewhat today what w/ her confrontation with Kei and the bachelor party, but in the case of Michiru, it falls apart. Haha the bachelor party went off with a hit and apparently the two blonde duos got all that they wanted from it. Hope your life gets…just a little brighter cuz it sucks having a crappy one and glad I made your week.
Graceling: World of warcraft?? I agree…I haven't played all day…that's just…wow…this story…awful XD j/k. Don't be sad when it gets done, although I share the sentiment. Be happy for moar wonderful things will happen. MOAR!!
Thepillows92.55: Loved the tiny face yay! Tiny face!! Bad guys are never as bad as you think they are…given the right…character…I suppose haha. Warm and fuzzeh is the way to feel!
Vanessa Riverton: Poor Jiro haha…Bustah Rhymes says gimme some mo too…XD
krugern: Yeah, the talks with all the characters are pretty easy. Once a convo rolls, it won't stop. XD Glad you liked the talk between Shina and Haruka…it was a long time coming. Glad you liked the revisit of Michiru's past as well, it was very enjoyable to write. Haha, I have given out hints as to the end…it'll be very obvious when we get there as to how it'll come to end. One more chapter…I seriously thought I would get in one more, but I was able to fit it in this one, so if I'm not planning to make an epilogue or w/e, the wedding as well as the ending is the next one. Grandpa couldn't have done the dirty deed on taking the blackmailer out because he would've known about Haruka and Michiru's relationship a long time ago which would make the scene with him and his son fighting about his granddaughter's orientation invalid. Therefore, I feel that the person who has shown more coldness looking back into the story that would be more than willing to do that, would be Shina, although she grew as well, at least to Haruka. Haha Satoshi pulling off a kind of mission impossible for that reason would be comical at best, but I guess I have some sort of mystery writer engraved in me somewhere in meaningful info VS non-meaningful is solely up to the reader.