Chapter 8: A Senshi Surprise...
"So what is our first stop?" Haruka asked from her seat, as her cousin drove his Jeep into the city. It had been one day since they had gone to the Festival of Speed and made to new friends who were taking part in that day's festivities and things could not have gone any better for the lovers. Michiru had gained the friendship of a local auto painter by the name of Flint who was a bit of an artist, while Haruka herself had become friends with a woman named Amara, a fellow automotive enthusiast much like herself. It was a big step for the normally reclusive and aloof couple, but the two lovers were happy with just how things had gone that day.
Today though, Alexander did not have anything planned for the couple seeing that he thought his cousin and her lover would enjoy a day at his home to rest and recover from their previous day's adventure. So imagine his surprised when Haruka asked if she could go into the city with him while he made his errands, saying that she wanted to do some things as well. Alex agreed to take her and now the two cousins were on the road, while Michiru decided to stay back at the house.
"Well , I have to go the bank first to see about some things, then I have to make a stop at the grocery and then back home." Alexander explained, "If all goes well, we should be back within a couple hours."
"Um, do you think that we can make another stop at the Western Union?" Haruka asked her cousin, sounding as if she did not want to get into the subject. "Western Union?" the marine asked his cousin curiously, "Are you expecting some money?"
"Just some spending money." the blond explained, "Michiru wants to do some shopping before we had back to Japan, so she made some arrangements last night to have some money sent to us. Don't worry, we called collect."
"I do hope so," Alex replied, I would hate any unwanted surprises in my next phone bill." Haruka just chuckled a bit, as she returned the gaze on the road. But as she watched the white lines in the road disappear under the moving vehicle, the tall blond could not help but to think about the young, aqua haired goddess that had stayed by her side all through out this ordeal.
All this time they had been on their self imposed exile in America, Michiru had been at the core of all her every thoughts. It always amazed the senshi of the wind just how Michiru, a woman who could get any one she wanted, decided to devote her love and devotion to her. Just why this talented, beautiful woman chose to be with her, Haruka did not know. All she knew was that she loved her Michiru with all her heart and that Michiru loved her just as much if not more.
Haruka was the wild tom boy while Michiru was the sophisticated princess. They were so different and yet they were so right for each other.
Michiru was her everything and Haruka had come very close to losing her forever because of her plan to "help" Galaxia. By all accounts Michiru should have left her as soon as they came back to "life" and leave the guardian of Uranus to sulk in her misery all alone, but she did not. Michiru had stayed by her side and together, they weathered this terrible storm in their lives. If that was not proof that her aqua haired goddess still loved her , then Haruka did not know what was.
Haruka just sat their in silence, lost in her own thought. So lost in fact, that she did not notice that Alexander had parked his Jeep in an parking structure and switched off the engine. "Hey are you coming?" Alexander's voice broke his cousin out of her zen like stupor.
"Oh, sorry." Haruka replied quickly, "Was just doing some thinking, that's all." Alexander just shook his head, as he watched his cousin exit the vehicle and together, they made their way out of the parking structure and towards the bank.
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Michiru felt a bit odd knowing that she was the only one left in the house. It was just a couple hours before that her lover and their host had left the house to go run so errands and despite being asked if she would have like to come along for the ride, the young violinist opted to stay behind. Saying that she needed to see about some things for when they headed back to Japan. Namely going about the task of finding themselves a place to live when they returned home, seeing that they had sold their last last home before leaving Tokyo just a couple weeks ago. Now the young woman was in front of a computer (Alexander said that she could use his) and was fully engrossed with finding a new home for herself and her lover.
As she browsed through the dozens of pictures of homes that were for sale back in Japan, one picture caught her attention. 'It's still has not sold yet.' Michiru thought, as she looked over the photo that showed the image home that she and her lover once shared. The mansion had been up for sale for almost 3 weeks and the young artist was surprised that no one had made an offer to buy is as of yet. Then again , why wouldn't any one want such a nice home?
It was comfortable and spacious with a nice interior, yet is was also cozy and simple compared to the other mansions that were in the same community. It was for those very same reasons just why the couple had decided to buy that particular home in the first place. It was just so perfect for them; herself, her lover, their house mate... and their daughter. There were so many happy memories in that home, too many to count or to recall all at once, but that was what they all were now. Memories.
For a moment, Michiru actually considered buying their former home and moving back in once they returned to Japan, but what would be the point? Their was only one thing that made that house a real home, family. At one time she along with her lover and their fellow senshi had made up a rather odd, yet close knit family together and that mansion had been the perfect place for them to be as such. But now it was only her and Haruka, to buy such a home now just for the two of them did not really make any sense. With a heavy sigh the senshi of the seas returned to her mission of finding a new home for herself and her love. Maybe she could find a comfortable apartment or condo for them to live in when they got back.
As the aqua haired woman continued to browse through the dozens of photo's on the computer she heard the door bell chime, signaling that there was some one at the front door. Pinching the ridge of her nose a bit, Michiru got up from her seat and made he way towards the front door. As she got closer Michiru began to wonder just who it was that was at the door, maybe it was one of Alex's friends or one of his neighbors that was trying to get a hold of him. But as she got closer, the young woman could not help but the sense a very familiar presence was waiting for her at the door.
"Don't be afraid, Michiru. I only want to talk to you." a voice said from the other side of the door. Michiru was taken back a bit when the unknown visitor called her by name, just who was it at the door and how did they know that it was her coming to answer it. Cautiously the aqua haired crept up to the door and peered through the door's "peep" hole to see just who it was on the other side. When she did, she lost all the color in her face as her body suddenly became weak.
"Can I come in?"
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It was now after lunch time when Haruka emerged from the Western Union with the money she had received from Japan. Since the Western Union branch was only a couple blocks away from the bank, the tall blond woman thought it would be best if she went to get the money when Alex was doing his business. Now with some spending money in hand, the couple could buy a few things before they went back home. But as Haruka made her way back to meet up with her cousin, she still could not help but to think about her Michiru and just how much she meant to her.
The last few weeks had been a very trying time for for the couple and their love for one another. Haruka was very certain that after these events Michiru would leave her once and for all and never come back, but instead, what had happened was that Michiru had stayed with her in their time of pain. Never once she had attacked Haruka for her actions or her decisions, never once did she make her feel as if their current was her fault (even thought it was). Michiru was the one thing that kept her going all through this time and she was very happy that the senshi of the seas had stayed with her. Haruka only wished that there was some way that she could show the woman that she loved just how much she meant to her.
It was at that point that Haruka's eyes caught sight of a near by store and an idea flashed across her mind. Without hesitation, the tall blond entered said store and began to search for the one thing that would prove to her lover that she meant the world and more to her and show Michiru that she wanted to be with her for the rest of her life.
"Hey Haruka! What you got there?" Alexander asked is cousin, as he saw her approach with a small white bag in her hand. "I is something that I brought for Michi. Nothing much." the tall blond replied, as she met back up with Alex. But her cousin got a better look at the bag and got a small smile on his lips.
"Okay, why is your girl mad at you ?"
"Wha... what do you mean?" Haruka replied, a bit taken back by Alexander's question. "Michiru is not mad at me."
"Oh yea? Then what are you doing with that bag from Zales?" Alexander shot back, noting the print on the bag.
"Did you ever thing just maybe that I decided to buy something for myself or that it may be a gift for you?" the tall blond replied in her defense.
"Okay you and I both know that neither of us likes to wear jewelry and seeing that you normally would not buy such a gift for any one else, I am guessing that it is for your girl Michi." Alexander explained to his now defeated cousin.
Haruka just sighed heavily before replying, " Look, Michiru is not mad at me. It is just well... Me and her have been getting very serious lately and well..."
"Well?"
"Well... I want to ask her to spend the rest of her life with me." Haruka finished with a slight blush.
"Oh my... Congratulations Haruka!" the marine exclaimed, as he pick up his cousin off the ground with a big bear hug. "So when are you going to pop the question?"
"Um... well..." Haruka began, trying to regain her composure after Alex's hug, "I plan to ask her before we return to Japan. But I want to surprise her so I expect you to keep it a secret."
Alex agreed to keep silent about his cousin's plans for her lover and after going over a few details, the two were off once again to finish their errands.
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Haruka was silent on the drive back to Alex's home. The senshi of the wind was once again lost in thought as she watched the lines in the street vanish under the moving vehicle. She was taking a huge gamble by asking her lover to marry her at a time when their future together was uncertain, but the blond did not care about any of that. Their recent actions almost a month ago and their current situation had been the ultimate test of their love for one another and despite there current situation, their love had survived and they were still together. Michiru had many chances to leave her and start a new live without her,, but instead the violinist had stayed by her side and Haruka was determined to let her lover know that she was the most important thing in her life.
As the 4x4 pulled into the drive way and Alex turned off the engine, Haruka suddenly felt an odd chill in the air. As if the wind was warning her that there was some one else inside the home with her Michi. "Is there something wrong?" Alexander asked, as he saw the odd look on Haruka's face.
"Stay here..." Haruka said sternly, as she moved towards the front door.
As she approached, Haruka could not help but to thing just what could be inside with her lover or what peril her lover was in at that very moment. If any thing happened to her to her Michi, Haruka was surly make who ever it was pay dearly for their sins. Slowly, the senshi of the wind crept up to the door. As she did, Haruka could have sworn that she heard Michiru's voice and it sounded like as if she was crying.
That was it! Swiftly, Haruka moved into position and with one kick, she broke down the front door and rushed in ready to do battle with who ever was responsible for hurting her love. When she entered the house Haruka did not see any would be intruders or yomas, but what Haruka found sitting in front of her was just as shocking and traumatic.
There sitting on the couch with Michiru was a woman with dark skin, garnet and long green hair, and she was dressed in a lavender colored business suit with a knee length skirt. Haruka could only stare on in disbelief as the woman looked her in the eye and say,
"It is nice to see you again, Haruka."