A/N - Considering how long it took me to do the 'Restaurant' arc, this is a quick update if you ask me! I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed last chapter, and to answer a few questions quickly - 9 million yen is £45,000 which is how much it would cost for that procedure in the UK, where I live so I base it off that (also remember in the UK we spell realize, centre and colour differently, so stop telling me I've made a mistake). Immense love to impersonal for not being a Lazy Beta and for helping me get moving (you really do rock) so if you like this chapter and feel it in you to leave kind words, please direct them to her too!
I'm dedicating this chapter to the first ever girl I kissed... because that memory really helped me write this chapter!
Anyway, as usual I've ranted enough, on with the show! Er... story... Enjoy!
CHAPTER 11 – SUNDAY SCHOOL RULES
"Hota-chan, what film do you want to watch? Oh do you eat meat?! Cos I ordered a couple of pepperoni pizzas, oh and I got…" Chibiusa began digging through her DVD collection by the base of her bed, chucking titles she clearly didn't want over her shoulder, sending them onto the other side of the room.
"Er... you talk too fast-" Hotaru clasped her hand over her mouth before turning bright red as her eyes widened as soon as she realised how rude she must have sounded, " G-g-gomen, Chibiusa-chan, I didn't mean to – " Hotaru was cut off by the sound of Chibiusa giggling.
The pink haired girl grinned and held up a DVD in her hand. "Don't sweat it Hotaru-chan... have you seen this?"
Hotaru squinted to read the title of the film. "Princess Mononoke? Who hasn't seen it Chibiusa-chan?"
Chibiusa's face turned a slight pink and she shuffled her two feet. "Gomen... but Helios-kun said you were shy, and I thought maybe you didn't watch many films either..."
As Chibiusa trailed off, Hotaru furrowed her brows. "Helios? You know Helios?"
Chibiusa looked up and nodded.
An awkward silence enveloped them.
Chibiusa coughed, breaking the silence and caught Hotaru's attention once more. "Hai... he, er, was the boy I met up with yesterday... But I didn't know you knew each other so well."
Hotaru nodded slowly. "Hai... we know each other reasonably well. So... you went on a date with him? Did it go well?" Hotaru was desperately hoping that Chibiusa would say no and start to bitch about how awful it went.
However, hope is just that. Chibiusa grinned widely and fell back onto her bed, lounging and her eyes glazed over dreamily. "It was soooo good, Hotaru-chan! He is the nicest boy ever and the Crown is so cool! We ate ice cream, played pool and went bowling! Maybe we could set you up with a boy and have a double – Eep!" Chibiusa threw a hand over her mouth and Hotaru just raised her eyebrows, not quite realising why it was Chibiusa seemed so embarrassed over her words.
The odango haired teen dropped her hand from her mouth and took a deep breath before licking her lips. "N-not that it h-has to be a boy, I mean you could bring who you liked..."
Chibiusa trailed off once more and as she looked around the room, she avoided looking Hotaru in the eyes, not sure why she was avoiding Hotaru right now – she had no problem talking with her on Friday, so why now?
Hotaru was still as confused as before, she had thought from Friday that Chibiusa was the sort of girl who didn't get embarrassed or flustered when speaking.
Chibiusa gently cleared her throat and Hotaru looked over to the other girl. "I-I just meant that... if you wanted to bring another girl, th-then that would be fine with me."
Chibiusa gave a nervous smile to Hotaru that was greeted with a scowl and a deep scoffing. Hotaru began shaking her head and moved to the other side of the room and grabbed her bag and coat and began heading for the door. Chibiusa rushed to the other girl and gripped her arm, stopping Hotaru from opening the door to her room. Chibiusa was greeted with the turbulent and troubled eyes of Hotaru staring deep into her own, pain etched across them.
"Let go of my arm!"
Hotaru's command being barked frightened the pink haired teen and she let go, jumping back at a little. Hotaru hung her head and looked away from Chibiusa. The pink haired girl took a deep breath then braved a step forward.
"Hotaru-chan? Why didn't you tell me?"
Hotaru turned around and looked sceptically at Chibiusa. "Why didn't I tell you? Why didn't I tell you?! I didn't tell you because it's none of your damned business! How did you – "Hotaru stopped mid-sentence.
Helios.
She shook her head almost disbelievingly; he told a complete stranger that about her? She had wanted Chibiusa to get to know her before she knew that about her. She didn't want the younger girl's judgement of her to be obscured by that 'fact'.
"Did Helios tell you?"
Hotaru turned to Chibiusa - her face set in stone.
Chibiusa took a deep breath before shakily nodding her head. She bit her lip and raised her head. "I don't care though."
Chibiusa watched with baited breath as Hotaru just stared at her.
"You don't?"
The dark haired girl released her grip from the door and stared into earnest ruby eyes. Chibiusa shook her head, the faintest flicker of a smile appearing on her face.
"Nope... it doesn't really matter to me. Love is love, right? Regardless of g-gender," Chibiusa inwardly slapped her forehead at how she stumbled over her words.
Hotaru shook her head and laughed bitterly. "You can't even talk about it without stuttering. Look, its fine, I should just go."
"NO! Look, it's just – I, "Chibiusa wrung her hands and sighed heavily. She looked up into deep purple eyes and smiled, just as a natural reaction to seeing those eyes, "Look, it's just new to me, but that doesn't mean I have a problem with it. I mean, I knew about Haruka-san and Makoto-san and it doesn't bother me, but it was just a shock because you didn't strike me as... gay."
Hotaru wanted to shout at Chibiusa as her voice nearly cracked saying the final word, but instead, she found herself wanting to 'aww' at the girl's complete innocence.
"I didn't strike you as gay?"
Hotaru's timbre varied in her sentence. Chibiusa went redder than she already was and she bit her lip.
"No! I didn't mean it like that, I don't stereotype! I just meant that – "
Hotaru laughed gently.
Chibiusa stopped talking and looked at the giggling girl, positively perplexed. Upon seeing the other girl's reaction, Hotaru stopped laughing and gingerly made her way to the bed again, dropping her bag and coat back to their previous positions. The dark-haired girl cleared her throat before sheepishly looking over at Chibiusa.
"I'm sorry about the way I reacted... it's just that... Helios has never outright told anyone." Hotaru looked at Chibiusa, who was now attentively listening to every word uttered. Hotaru took a deep breath, "He was the first person I ever told. And at school, people found out – not through him I know that for a fact – and the first reaction I ever got was a beating."
"Wh-why are you telling me this?"
Hotaru closed her eyes, she felt the mattress depress with the arrival of Chibiusa sitting next to her. Hotaru opened her eyes and looked at the girl. "Because... tomorrow, when we're both at school, if people see you talking to me you'll only get hassled too. And, I really don't want that for you because it's not worth it. So, I want you to know that tomorrow if you don't want to be seen with me; then I understand."
Chibiusa tilted her head to one side and furrowed her eyebrows and scrunched her nose in confusion. "Why would I not want to be seen with you? Doesn't Helios-kun hang around with you at school? And I'm pretty sure from yesterday that he doesn't get any trouble from anyone about it."
Hotaru laughed gently and shook her head – Chibiusa's naïveté was refreshing but clearly she had no idea what teenage life at school could be like. "Helios is one of the best athletes at our school and he's great in lessons... he's the poster child and everyone loves him. Of course, he doesn't get crap. But you? You're new... you might get some hassle from people if they know you see me outside of school."
Chibiusa was still confused. Why would people at the school care? It was none of their business who she was friends with. She met Hotaru and she liked her, and if she wanted to talk to her at school then she would.
Hotaru was staring at Chibiusa as she was thinking deeply, who was clearly taking in all this information and processing it, and all Hotaru could think of was how cute Chibiusa looked in this moment; her nose was scrunched up and her lips were in a pout. Her index finger was tapping her cheek rhythmically and her eyebrows were knitted together.
Hotaru snapped out of her stupor as Chibiusa brought her gaze up to look at Hotaru.
Chibiusa smiled warmly at her and was oblivious to the small blush that erupted over the bridge of the dark-haired girl's face. "I don't care, Hotaru. If people are going to be as pathetic as that... then they're not worth my time. But you? You're my friend... and I'm not that shallow. Let's forget about this Hotaru. Today is our day to hang out and get to know each other better."
A tranquil quiet took over the room and Hotaru smiled sheepishly. "I... er, I feel like an idiot right about now."
Chibiusa waved her hand dismissively and smiled amiably.
"I said forget about it Hotaru... now, let's watch that film."
Chibiusa plopped down on her bed, stomach down and held the DVD remote in her hand, and began playing the film. Hotaru looked at Chibiusa, being only able to see the back of the pink-haired girl's head.
'She doesn't care'.
Hotaru smiled warmly just as Chibiusa turned around. Both blushed furiously – Hotaru for being caught staring and smiling at the girl. And Chibiusa? Because she saw the tender way in which Hotaru was smiling at her.
Clearing her throat the odango haired girl spoke quietly.
"Maybe we should watch the movie when our food comes..." she trailed off and Hotaru nodded.
"Hai, I'm hungry," Chibiusa's stomach growled and Hotaru snickered, "I guess you are too, huh?"
"Ugh! Can we take a lunch break now, Ami-san?"
Makoto slumped back into her leather chair and with the index and middle finger of her left hand and gently applied the pressure to her temples, hoping to alleviate some of the pain in her headache ridden cranium.
"Makoto-san, please! We only have the invoices for Friday left to do and we're done." Ami never took her gaze away from the computer in front of her.
"But Ami, we've been here since 8am, surely one little break won't kill us? Look, just one hour break for lunch? Its 1 pm come on!" Ami suppressed a grin as she heard the childlike whine in the tone her 'employer' was using.
"Makoto-san, these invoices will only take two hours at most, can't you wait?" The brunette sighed and Ami took that as a sign of defeat.
After a few minutes, in which all that could be heard was the typing of keys and the occasional grunt from Makoto, a loud groaning was heard throughout the room and Ami blushed instantly. Makoto looked up and smirked salaciously at the bluenette who was trying to hide behind her laptop screen.
"Hungry, Ami-san?" Makoto chuckled as Ami turned a light shade of cherry and nodded nervously. Makoto stood from her chair and chuckled gently.
"Well, let's have a lunch break then okay? You're no good to me hungry and overworked." Ami smiled at Makoto's gentle teasing. She reached for her bag and opened it, searching for a small Tupperware box. Makoto cocked her head to the side and looked in intrigue at Ami.
"Er... Ami-san? What are you doing?" Ami looked up to the brunette and answered matter-of-factly.
"I'm looking for my lunch. I made some sandwiches."
Makoto's face drained of all colour and she nearly stumbled backwards.
"Ami-san! You do realise that I'm a chef?" Ami nodded. "And that this is my restaurant?" Ami nodded once more. "And you still brought your own lunch?"
Ami stopped searching in her bag and looked down at her feet, feeling smaller than ever.
Makoto instantly felt guilty.
"I-I'm just saying Ami-san, that yesterday you spent the day re-organizing everything and insisted you were fine... but please, allow me to make you some lunch... a real lunch?"
"...Okay, Makoto-san. Thank you."
Makoto shook her head. "Don't thank me, just follow me."
Makoto walked from her office after seeing Ami rise. They both made their way downstairs past the closed restaurant and went to the kitchen.
After putting her chef's jacket on, Makoto rolled the sleeves up and looked over to Ami who was nervously standing beside the island in the middle of the kitchen. Makoto inwardly beamed but managed to repress her outward appearance. She looked at Ami and grinned.
"You like sandwiches?" Ami nodded and Makoto thought for a moment, "Let's try something new. And, in fact, you can help me make it... so when you're at home, you have no excuse for not being able to make it."
Makoto grinned as Ami shook her head fervidly, but the brunette beckoned her over and Ami obediently walked over. Makoto walked to a drawer and pulled out an apron and brought it over to Ami. "N-n-n-no, Makoto-san, honestly, me in a kitchen? You'll be paying double on your insurance premiums!"
Makoto couldn't contain her chuckle as Ami tried her best to fight the inevitable – a cooking lesson. Makoto grinned and threw the apron over Ami's head and dragged the material over the blue haired girl's head. She turned Ami around and on auto-pilot began tying her apron up from behind.
Ami's entire body tensed the send she felt Makoto's hands on her arms and turn her, and she was still frozen to this moment – Makoto's hands were on the small of her back, tying her apron, but the touch was electrifying nonetheless.
Makoto froze up as soon as she realized what she was doing. Ami wasn't moving and neither was she. Makoto wasn't aware she had stopped breathing till she let out a long breath that gently tickled the back of Ami's neck, which Makoto was unaware caused the younger girl to shiver involuntarily.
"I...er... It's so you don't get messy." Makoto scolded herself inwardly for her lameness.
Quickly, she moved her hands from Ami and walked quickly over to the industrial fridge situated in the middle of the wall furthest from the door. Makoto allowed her flushing face to cool down as soon as the fridge's chilled air hit her face. She opened her eyes and looked around the shelves, taking ingredients from each shelf she thought would suit them.
As soon as she was sure her face was back to its normal colour, Makoto turned around with her arms full of ingredients and walked back to the island where a still speechless Ami stood. Makoto avoided eye contact with the younger girl as she spread out several of her ingredients and began speaking as she pointed them out.
"Chicken escalope, ginger, chilli, some sugar, baby gem lettuce, avocado and a tortilla wrap. Throw everything cooked, aside from the lettuce, into the wrap and voila, you have a perfect lunchtime snack."
Fifteen minutes later, Makoto opened the oven door and removed the chicken escalope and placed it on top of a white chopping board. She handed the avocado to Ami.
"If you cut that and use a spoon to carve out the flesh that would be great Ami-san." Makoto began slicing the escalope with ease and looked over after a moment to Ami – to be greeted with the sight of Ami struggling to cut the avocado. Makoto dropped her knife on the chopping board and approached Ami.
"Having trouble?"
Ami hung her head.
Makoto took a deep breath and grabbed the avocado in one hand and brought Ami's hand to the knife and caused her to grip it again. "The stone is large so the easiest way to cut it is widthways then adjust the fruit – it's soft, see? – not your grip or the knife..." Makoto trailed off as she realised she had stood up close to Ami, her front pressed into the younger girl's back, her hand covering Ami's, relishing in the softness of the shorter girl's skin. Makoto was tempted to move, but noticed that Ami hadn't moved.
Ami closed her eyes as she felt the warm breath from behind cause goose-bumps on the back of her neck. Ami lifted her head and cleared her throat gently.
"Makoto-san?"
Makoto closed her eyes as she heard her name and a ghost of a smile began forming on her lips.
"Hai?"
Makoto opened her eyes as she felt a slight movement from in front of her. Ami had turned around, her eyes staring at the floor, looking nervous. Makoto's thoughts did a one-eighty as she thought of how awkward she must have made Ami just feel. Makoto withdrew her hand and shuffled back a little.
Ami looked up and saw how guilt-ridden the brunette looked. Ami blushed deeply as she struggled to get her next set of words out of her mouth.
"I am so sorry about the other week."
Makoto's jaw clenched a little at the mention of the previous week, she avoided the gaze of Ami and walked over to the place beside Ami, resuming her previous work with the knife and chicken.
"Don't worry about it, it's in the past."
Ami fought to keep her bottom lip from trembling. She couldn't help when her voice cracked as she spoke. "It is?"
Makoto slowly let the knife slip back onto the chopping board. "You made it clear last week that you had no interest, and you can't help if I'm not your type, Ami-san, so there's no need for you to apologise."
Ami saw as Makoto turned around that there was still a possibility; she had not said she was sorry for asking her out.
This was her chance.
A chance to make it all right.
"But you are, well... I th-think you are."
Ami closed her eyes at her statement, not wishing to look at Makoto. But, she couldn't resist the voice of the woman before her, opening her eyes as soon as she heard her speak.
"I am what?"
Confusion carved into jade.
"You're my type."
A knife fell to the floor, but neither of them moved.
Separated only by four feet of air, Makoto stepped forward, her eyes looking into Ami's searching for any falseness.
"You don't have to say that just to make me feel better, Ami." Ami shook her head gently, not wanting to break the eye contact.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Makoto."
Neither could find anymore words to say, if anything else was verbalized this moment could be wrecked. Ami was almost stuck on the spot; she had shot her nerves just saying those last few words that changed the entire relationship of the two in an instant. Makoto took a tentative step forward, looking for any sign from Ami that she didn't mean her words; that maybe this was a last minute pity party. But as she drew closer, she saw no reluctance.
Ami closed her eyes. She felt as though she was going to explode, her heart was pumping faster than ever and she could literally feel the adrenaline forcing itself through her nimble figure. The bluenette drew in a sharp breath as a slightly rough but ever so comforting hand rested on her cheek.
"Ami, open your eyes."
Even with the adrenaline coursing through her body Ami couldn't find the strength in her to move a muscle.
"Please?"
All it took was a word.
Ami's eyes fluttered open, revealing to Makoto the most beautiful azure eyes she'd ever seen.
Ami blushed at seeing how close Makoto was. Barely inches away. Ami became acutely aware of the sweet scent of Makoto's breath, how the warmth she felt nearing her lips spread from there to heat through the rest of her body.
Just looking into those soft emerald eyes transported Ami to a place she had never known, it was like she was really there experiencing everything and seeing everything, smelling and touching everything but at the same time she wasn't in her own skin; it felt similar to that sensation you have when your body has woken from a good night's sleep but your mind hasn't.
Everything was just... hazy.
She closed her eyes and took a shaky breath in just to calm her nerves and to confirm this was all real, in a single moment of wishful clarity, but before she could finish taking in the breath-
Soft, supple lips pressed gently into Ami's.
'My God'
She had never known gentleness like this could ever exist; Makoto had taken the step she always feared with women.
The first kiss.
Regardless of who you are, who you're kissing, where you are, regardless of ANY of the circumstances... the first kiss is always the hardest thing to get through.
And this was no exception.
Makoto felt Ami shudder at the contact and she instinctively wrapped her arms around the younger woman's waist, catching her hands on the apron and fumbling for a moment before securing her arms around Ami's midsection.
Ami hadn't noticed the minor slipup from the older woman, her entire train of thought had been halted as soon as she felt the feathery soft touch of the robust brunette's mouth being gently connected to her own, making her unaware of anything else actually happening around her.
Ami clasped onto Makoto's shoulders, the feeling she was experiencing threatening to overwhelm her and cause her knees to really buckle from beneath her. Ami wasn't sure after a moment if Makoto's lips were still on hers, and she wasn't sure if that was attributed to the fact Makoto's lips were so velvety smooth that they may have numbed her own mouth with their very gentility.
Anxiously, Ami moved her bottom lip and instantly felt the sensation of her lips brushing against Makoto's, a movement which sent a bolt of power flowing through her, causing every part of her being to feel a new lease of life being jolted forward. Her body tingled with this foreign feeling, only to feel it escalated when Makoto moved her lips against hers once more.
Ami timidly parted her lips, and expected Makoto to dive her tongue into her mouth.
What she got was Makoto gently biting on her lower lip, nibbling at her delicate and swollen flesh, before sucking lightly and releasing her lip and softly pecking her on the lips once more, before she pulled away softly.
Ami kept her eyes closed.
It was the first kiss she had ever received.
Ever.
Even though she had been an escort she had only ever done presentation dates, she couldn't actually bear the thought of giving a complete stranger her first, well, her first everything. She had given Makoto her first kiss... and she had no regrets. She had never thought another person could so caring and compassionate – and all conveyed in something as simple as a kiss.
Ami felt warm hands move around her waist and she fluttered her eyes open.
Jade eyes were still looking at her, this time with much more concern then Ami had ever seen in any one person's eyes.
The bluenette let out a shaky breath and took in a deep breath then she turned her head as she blushed heavily at realising she mustn't have breathed in a fair while.Makoto gently pulled back from Ami causing an unwelcome coldness to take over the younger girl from where Makoto's warmth was previously heating Ami. Makoto's features were soft but had a protective hardness that Ami couldn't help but love.
Love?! Wait! No-one said this was lo –
"Ami, are you okay?"
Ami, still avoiding Makoto's gaze, just nodded and stayed quiet.
Makoto instantly knew something was wrong. Sure, Ami was shy, but surely she wasn't this shy and surely not after a kiss?
Unless... she had not kissed often... or ever before...
"Ami? Was... Erm... Was this your – your first – "
BRING BRING
Makoto groaned loudly and held onto Ami for a moment.
The bluenette squeaked out, "It could be important."
Makoto growled as she walked from her place in the kitchen out to the restaurant to where the main desk phone was ringing. Ami was right, it could be real important. But still, damn it! Makoto picked up the phone and turned on the spot, seeing that Ami was standing in the doorway to the kitchen, looking apprehensively at her. "Makoto's."
"Mako-chan! Good, you're there."
Makoto cocked an eyebrow in shock. "Maya?" Makoto looked over to Ami and saw that she seemingly tensed up at the mention of Makoto's ex-lover. Makoto clenched her jaw and hissed down the phone,
"What do you want? And make it quick."
"Jeez, Mako-chan, your temper is nearly as bad as Tenoh's!" Maya giggled down the phone, causing every muscle in Makoto to tense up, "I'm calling about your review. I promised you a preview and it's going out in today's evening edition, which is read by pretty much everyone... thought you'd like to see it."
"I'll just buy the paper, thanks."
"Oh, Mako, come on now, you should see it, it really is quite wonderful... in fact, and the editor gave me a promotion in my department due to it... I thought maybe we could go out for that... catch-up. A drink, a dinner or a night of whatever. What do you say?"
Makoto was dumbfounded. She held the phone away from her ear and stared at it in disbelief. Was this some sort of joke? "Are you on drugs? Maya, you must be to think that I'd ever want to see you again. Friday was a coincidence and trust me when I say that I do not want to see you here again. I want nothing to do with you. I have better things to do."
"Like that little girl you're pining after, Mako?"
Makoto had stopped paying attention already and spoke without thinking, her focus solely on the bluenette now looking more beautiful and nervous than ever as she shuffled in the kitchen doorway. "Uh huh."
A silence, then Makoto realised what she said and her cheeks went a light crimson colour.
"Er, none of your business, Maya!" Makoto kept her gaze on Ami, her eyes looking over every curve and line of her form, her mind imagining their softness, envisioning the scent of her skin.
"Come on, Mako, you need a real woman to – "
"Goodbye, Kobayashi-san," and Makoto slammed the phone back onto its cradle with some force before taking a few deep breaths.
"Are you okay, Makoto...san?" Ami flushed a delightful shade of red. A small yet wholly warm smile carved into Makoto's features.
"Hai, Ami, I'll be just fine."
Haruka was standing beside the company car; the late night air was refreshingly cool tonight. The tomboy was dressed in slacks, a dress shirt and a blazer so the cold was never a real issue. She held onto the two Styrofoam cups with a slightly hard grip, allowing the two hot coffees to warm her hands.
The last time she had checked her watch it was 9:48pm... it had to be nearing ten now and Haruka always worried when it neared the end of a job for the girls. Though, while Haruka had been working at After Dark she had yet to experience any less than pleasant clients, it was never out of her thoughts for there to be a shady member of their clientele. So, Haruka kept her mind on mentally ticking down the seconds until the end of this job.
At ten, she would be picking up the last girl for the night. Minako had a simple banquet to go to that ended thirty minutes ago and Rei wasn't working today – she had told Haruka she only needed Monday's work. Haruka knew it was because she handled the scheduling.
Haruka sighed impatiently... Michiru should be out here by now. If she's not here in two minutes, then Haruka was going to barge into the hotel and check that everything was fine. She stood by the sleek, black Honda Accord VT and closed her eyes as she waited for the time to pass.
Three minutes passed, and she placed both cups of coffee on the roof of the car and opened the passenger door, ready to leave the coffees safely in there. As she bent into the car, she heard the distinct sound of stiletto heels walking across cobbled stone. Haruka spun around on the spot and smiled gently as she saw the aqua-haired woman she had been waiting for walking slowly towards her. Walking out from the shadows provided by the canopy entrance of the hotel, at first Michiru's features were obscured, but Haruka would be able to recognise Michiru a mile off.
"Hey... I was getting worried; you're almost five minutes late."
Michiru kept her face expressionless as she approached the blonde but stopped short, ten feet easily dividing them. Michiru crossed her arms. "There's no need to worry, I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself."
Haruka smiled nervously and nodded.
"I know that..." The tomboy reached back into the open car and took out the two cups of coffee and held them out, holding one a little further towards Michiru.
"I got coffee."
Michiru cocked an eyebrow and looked unimpressed. "I can see that. Why?"
Haruka scrunched her nose in confusion. Usually people got coffee to drink it, right? Or was Michiru suddenly not aware of this? Haruka moved the cup further to Michiru and offered an amiable smile with it.
"To perk you up after... work."
Michiru looked at the cup, bit her lip then shook her head. She moved her hand to the cup and pushed it back to the blonde. Her words next bite a little, "Sorry, I'm cutting out caffeine."
Haruka sighed despondently and looked to her right, seeing a trash can and she threw both coffees into it, before turning back to the car. The tomboy opened the front passenger door fully only to have Michiru walk straight past her and open the back passenger door instead. Michiru locked eyes with Haruka before stepping into the back of the car. The tomboy laughed in disbelief as she heard the door slam shut.
"Fine, Michiru..."
Though Haruka was sure Michiru couldn't hear her.
Haruka slammed the front passenger door too and she walked around the front of the car, watching out for oncoming vehicles as she entered the car through the driver's seat and slid effortlessly into her position. She put on her seatbelt, but didn't move for the ignition. The tomboy looked up into the rear-view mirror and saw Michiru was looking out of the window nearest to her. Haruka cleared her throat but got no reaction from Michiru. The tomboy shook her head and sighed heavily, "So... where to?"
"I don't go fucking around after work."
Michiru's response was without hesitation in a straight smacked tone. If Haruka didn't know better she would have thought it was almost rehearsed. "I didn't mean to imply that."
Michiru simply shrugged, still not even looking at Haruka. "Just take me to my apartment."
Haruka still stared at Michiru, waiting for her to turn and look at her. Michiru's cold behaviour was really starting to get to Haruka – it had Haruka doubting her suspicions in the office a day earlier. Maybe Haruka had just done something to piss the aqua-haired escort off; she was feeling a little foolish now to think that Michiru might have liked her. Though since yesterday when she had put the thought into her mind about Michiru liking her... Haruka thought it wasn't so bad. After all, Michiru was very beautiful, elegant, educated, and witty and she was more than easy to get on with – usually. Really, Haruka would have no problem with the attention from Michiru, if it were true of course. Haruka just had the one real con that outweighed all the pros.
Escort. Call girl. Essentially she sold her body for money, no, she sold herself.
Whatever you called it, that's what she was. And Haruka did not have time for that drama, and she didn't really care for it. Sighing, Haruka reached forward and put her keys into the ignition. She turned it and brought the car to life. Before she even reached for the steering wheel, Haruka looked back in the rear-view mirror and found familiar blue eyes staring at her. The blonde leaned back into her chair but kept her eyes on Michiru.
Neither relented and without knowing this became a game to see who could hold out the longest.
Haruka looked into Michiru's eyes and saw the strength she was struggling to uphold. She was using her 'cold wall'. Intent on keeping out any unwanted visitors, Haruka had seen her use it with countless clients but seeing this infamous look being used on her? She was stunned to say the least.
The silence was deafening in the car.
Michiru couldn't understand why just didn't tell Haruka the truth. Surely, things would not have changed that much? She had already pushed the blonde away and had kept her at a distance. She did that for self-preservation. If there was one thing she knew about, it was that.
"Nothing?"
"Nothing."
Michiru's lip trembled as she heard her mother tell her the news. The money left for her and her mother from her deceased father years before had run out. Every single coin and note was spent. They had nothing to sustain them. Her mother had no job, no real qualifications.
And they needed money soon.
"I don't understand, Okaa-san."
Her mother looked away from her and slumped into the sofa. She said nothing for a few minutes and it took a while for Michiru to catch on to the fact her mother was sobbing silently. Michiru sat beside her mother and rubbed her back with love.
"Okaa-san, what is it?"
Michiru's mother took a deep breath and steadied herself. "I-I... gave the money to a man... he said he would double it with interest if I invested, Michi-chan. Oh God... how could I have been so stupid?!"
Michiru's jaw went slack as she heard her mother explain their new situation. "Y-you gave him all of our money?"
Michiru's mother looked up through tear-filled eyes and nodded slowly, lunging to her daughter in the hopes of being embraced. She was disappointed when she was met with air and went stumbling forward, landing on her knees painfully. Michiru was standing above her shaking her head in disgust.
"How could you do this okaa-san? How stupid! That money was going to pay for my tuition for my junior and senior year at Tokyo Fine Arts and Music school! It's too late to apply for a scholarship now, how am I supposed to survive? I'm only sixteen, what job could support us?!"
Her mother was still sobbing on the floor, spittle flying from her mouth to the floor as she cried. "I'm sorry, Michi! I am! Please, forgive me."
Michiru shook her head and walked from the family room and went to her own bedroom, locking the door behind her as soon as she entered. She collapsed onto her divan bed and screamed into the mattress, which effectively muffled her anguish. She lifted her head up and rolled onto her back, closing her eyes and taking in deep breaths in a vain attempt to calm herself.
Her mother and given her money away, no doubt like she had given away money before to good looking men, who said sweet nothings into her ear, gave her pleasure for a few nights and got what they were searching for. A fat wad of cash.
Months passed; Michiru's home was sold and she moved into a dingy one bedroom apartment and Michiru slept on the sofa.
Music school never happened – and she was rumoured to be the next big thing by her tutor, they tried to get her a scholarship but she needed a job to support her family now and the hours she needed to study and play would have been more use to work and earn more money, her mother was useless but she couldn't let her suffer, she did love her still.
Michiru started a job off in a supermarket – most unglamorous, then moved onto a job in a restaurant for a year; desperate on good tips until she was approached by a man who claimed to be a photographer for 'racier'material. But he paid her upfront in cash, and all she had to do was to pose seductively and eventually kiss another girl for a few more minutes.
That was when she met Elza. The girl she had to kiss for five minutes.
Elza and her hit it off and became good friends, and after a few months Elza introduced Michiru to Miss M... explaining to her the work they did paid well.
That was how Michiru came to work at After Dark, and she didn't have to worry about money again. It was such a relief when she sent her mother money every month and she had more than enough to sustain a good life in Tokyo. And she had it all due to her own sacrifices. Her own selflessness had saved her and her mother from absolute ruin. And to do that she had done the one thing that had gotten them in that position in the first place.
Saying sweet nothings to strangers and given pleasure to strangers in order to get the abundance of notes for her reward.
Self-preservation can be a bitch and she's the perfect model of it.
She had spent so long pining after Haruka that it was almost pathetic. She knew Haruka would have nothing to do with her in the end. Michiru inwardly sighed; she was getting tired of these games. It had been nearly two years and she didn't even have it in her to tell the one person who had stolen her heart that she had done so. She must have been a masochist to put herself through this torture, surely?
She was about ready to blink, to signal to Haruka this game was over, 'You win Haruka', when the sound of a familiar yet altogether completely and utterly embarrassing ringtone filled the car, breaking the perfect silent wall in the car between the front part and the backseats.
Haruka turned bright pink and looked away, peeved at the fact she had let Michiru when their game. The blonde dug into her blazer pocket and pulled out her cell-phone, pausing to stare at the screen. She cringed at the name that was flashing on the screen.
"Aren't you going to answer that?"
Haruka glanced into the rear-view mirror and send an insincere smile to Michiru who asked with such an emotionless tone – it was so immature she may as well have stuck her tongue out as the metaphoric cherry on top.
"Ah kuso... "
Haruka took a deep breath. Here it goes.
"Tenoh Haruka– ah, Lara. Hey."
Haruka snuck a quick glance in the rear-view. She caught the smallest glimpse of sorrow-filled, blue eyes before they turned to look outside of the window. Rendering Haruka unable to read Michiru anymore.
"Hey, I just got your text about dinner. I can't believe I missed you Saturday but thanks for returning the message. I just got off work... so, you free tomorrow night?"
"Sure am."
Haruka was arranging a date with a gorgeous woman... shouldn't she be feeling less guilty?
"Haru-chan? Are you at work today?" Haruka looked up from the kitchen counter she was currently slumping against and glanced over to her dark-haired cousin.
"Hai... Hota-chan, I'm only driving today though. Why? Do you need me for something?" Hotaru smiled quickly before shaking her head. Haruka raised an eyebrow before nodding slowly.
"O-kay." The tomboy couldn't help but note how odd her cousin was acting this morning. Hotaru was shuffling around in her seat and fiddling with the hem of her skirt, Haruka looked down at her watch, it was nearing noon.
"Hota-chan, can I take you to Usagi's earlier? I need to drive all over the city today and need as much a head-start as I can get." Hotaru looked curiously over to her cousin. She looked suspiciously over at her cousin but before she could say anything Haruka spoke out, while making her way to sit beside Hotaru.
"Hota?" Purple eyes snapped to attention, Haruka looked down into her coffee and gripped her mug firmly, allowing the warmth from the drink to heat her hands.
"On Friday, at the restaurant... did you..." Haruka sighed as she trailed off. She couldn't help but notice the sudden attachment Hotaru had to Michiru. The blonde looked at her cousin and saw that Hotaru was looking at her with a somewhat amused expression. "What is it Hota?"
The teen shook her head, her black hair falling forward and perfectly obscuring her face. Haruka leaned forward, intrigued by her cousin's behaviour.
"Hota?" The teen was visibly shaking before she brought her head back, her hand covering her mouth as she laughed.
"Gomen, Haru-chan... so what about the restaurant?"
Haruka scowled at her cousin, not sincerely but the effect was the same, Hotaru instantly became serious and Haruka sighed again. "Lara... that woman? Why didn't you like her?"
Hotaru scrunched her nose up and sat back into the sofa. She took in a deep breath and Haruka looked back to her coffee. Hotaru shrugged, "What is this really about Haru-chan?"
Haruka placed her coffee down on the coffee table and sighed heavily before laughing bitterly, "don't worry; forget I said anything."
A silence took over the room. Hotaru cleared her throat, catching Haruka's attention and instantly getting her cousin's gaze. "Is it Michiru?"
Haruka's entire body froze on the spot and she turned her body ever so slightly to her younger cousin, quizzically eyeing her.
"Wh-what?"
Hotaru giggled and opened her mouth to speak but the house rang shrilly, slicing through the silence. Haruka begrudgingly slump her shoulders and sighed heavily – why was she talking to a fifteen year old about these things? Oh yeah, because she couldn't talk to Makoto about it, she's only smirk and gloat about how she was right... and Seiya? God, don't even get her started on Seiya. Usagi and Mamoru were a bit too busy with whatever it was going on between them.
And anyone from After Dark was out of the question.
So, the only option left was Hotaru – and the plus side, as Haruka saw it was that the young girl was family and was likely to be more loyal...right? "I think it doesn't matter who I or anyone else likes Haru-chan... it only matters who you like. But, if you want my opinion, now I think about it, she actually is really quite beautiful Haru-chan."
Even though Hotaru blushed Haruka couldn't help but be astounded at her cousin's depth and the astute attitude with which she spoke about Lara.
Wait, she was talking about Lara right?
Right?!
"Are you okay? Are you still there?"
Haruka snapped back to reality as she heard Lara's voice. "Hai... but your timing – I mean, now's not a good time. Can I call you back later?"
"Uh, sure. Bye, Haruka."
Haruka ended the call and stuffed her phone hurriedly into her pocket. She ignited the car into life, and was soon careening in the light Tokyo traffic. She glanced into the rear-view mirror and saw Michiru was still sitting in the exact same position in the backseat – staring out at God knows what.
Fourteen minutes later, Haruka slid into an empty parking spot luckily outside of Michiru's apartment complex. The engine died down and Haruka removed her car keys from the car and took her seatbelt off. Michiru snapped her attention to the blonde and asked in her emotionless tone again, "what are you doing?"
Haruka ignored her and stepped out of the car. Michiru threw her seatbelt off and scrambled to get out of the car.
This was unexpected.
As Michiru clambered out of the car, she was assaulted with the visual of Haruka, standing dangerously close to her. Michiru stepped forward intent on getting away from the blonde, but found the only way was to squeeze past Haruka and Michiru did not want to put herself through such wonderful torture. Michiru stepped back, defeated and crossed her arms over her chest.
"I said what are you doing?"
Haruka smirked and stepped aside, bowing in a joking manner.
"Making sure you get home in one piece."
Michiru scoffed and stepped forward. "It's a two minute walk to my apartment, I'm sure I'll be fine."
Haruka held her hands up in defence. "Hai, hai, I know, you're perfectly capable of looking after yourself."
Michiru was confused, was Haruka trying to joke with her? 'Of course, Michiru-baka, she probably wants the old joking, friendly relationship she had with you'. Inwardly, Michiru laughed bitterly, 'no way, I won't let myself get hurt seeing her with someone else. No, from here on in, it's strictly Kaioh and Tenoh.'
"I'll see you tomorrow, Tenoh-san."
Michiru continued to walk but heard footsteps towards her and a firm hand grip her elbow, she turned around to see the blonde tomboy she so desperately wanted to escape... well, at this moment anyway, "We didn't get to finish talking yesterday," Haruka watched with interest as Michiru cocked an eyebrow in intrigue giving Haruka the 'floor' to talk, "About Lara?" Michiru clenched her jaw.
"I told you I don't like her," Michiru raised her lip into a slight sneer. "She's all yours, Tenoh-san."
"Michiru."
Haruka's firm tone stopped the other woman in her tracks. Forcing her eyes closed and taking a deep breath. God, now, she couldn't bear it for one more minute. "What, Tenoh-san?"
"I-I... I want you to know, that nothing will change between us... if it's someone else. I just..." Haruka sighed deeply and hung her head, was it so sad to admit she missed Michiru's company?
That she missed being her...friend? Things like her playing with her hair and massaging her shoulders... wait, friends did that too, right?!
"I just want to get over whatever it is that's causing you to act this way to me. I don't think I deserve it. Please tell me what's wrong."
Haruka couldn't bring herself to outright ask Michiru if she was in love with her – how utterly humiliating would it have been if Michiru had laughed and honestly said no? Haruka's ego could only take so much of a battering! Even though Haruka had a fairly good idea Michiru had an interest in her, no-one ever puts themselves out like that right?
'I mean I made Makoto do that with Ami, and look at how they are now'...
Haruka brought her attention to Michiru, hoping to God that whatever she said she would be telling the tall blonde the truth. It's all she asked, and whatever it was they would work through it. Haruka wanted to be friends with her still... All she wanted was the truth.
"I can't tell you. Goodnight, Tenoh-san."
Michiru hurriedly walked off, leaving Haruka standing by the entrance of her apartment complex still. Haruka's eyes clouded over with melancholy. Michiru had told her the truth.
She really couldn't tell her.
"Haru-chan, is that you?" Hotaru's voice was meek in the living room of their apartment. Haruka opened the door slowly and closed it behind her, the fatigue from the day catching up with her.
"No, it's the boogieman."
Haruka's deadpan brought no evident amusement to her cousin other than a slight shake of the head.
"How was work, Haru-chan?"
Haruka instantly thought of Michiru. The blonde shook her head to rid herself of the day's events. "It was fine, Hotaru. How was your girls' day in?"
Hotaru laughed gently.
Her thoughts moved onto the jokes they shared, the movies they watched, and the pizza she watched Chibiusa and Usagi have a competition to see who could eat the most of. Hotaru thought back to her day with Chibiusa, the awkwardness of the young girl, Hotaru's reaction to Chibiusa knowing about her. Her preference for women, how awkward she seemed, the slight distance she kept in comparison to Friday.
It was going to be hard – pretending she had no attraction to Chibiusa, Friday had proven otherwise, and being only her friend. All the while knowing full well she was now dating her only other friend.
Hotaru sighed dejectedly, it was going to be hard but she was willing to see it out. Chibiusa was a great girl nonetheless and being her friend would surely be okay, right? Yeah, she could settle... right?
"It was fine. Haru-chan."
Silence enveloped the two and Haruka noted that it seemed a more regular occurrence with Hotaru here. Even when she was living alone, the blonde's apartment was always blaring music or the V volume was up far too loud. She chuckled gently – she really had to get Hotaru out of her shy state.
Her blazer pocket vibrated and Haruka reached into her garment and retrieved her cell-phone. The screen showed she had a new message. From Lara.
Hey, sorry decided to hit the hay, had a long day. Tomorrow, 8pm, the Belvedere. Wear something sexy and I will too ;) xLarax
Haruka slowly raised one blonde eyebrow and tapped back her reply simply saying she'd be there.
Haruka smirked and pressed back into the address book. Just below 'Lara Ellis' was 'Kaioh Michiru'. Haruka had put Lara's name in her phone the way she had written and it had put her above Michiru.
Haruka suddenly felt nauseous. She quickly put her phone back into her pocket and looked over to Hotaru.
"I'm going to bed. I'm not feeling too good. Night Hota-chan." Hotaru stood up and placed the book she was reading back onto the coffee table.
"Are okay Haru-chan?" Her blonde cousin nodded and Hotaru smiled, although she was still concerned, her cousin did suddenly look pale. "Okay, well, I had better go to bed too. School tomorrow."
The two made their way to their rooms slowly and prepared for bed. Ten minutes later, purple eyes closed, a vision of a pink-haired girl clouding her pre-dream thoughts. Five minutes later, a pair of gentle teal eyes closed, thinking of an old saying.
Tomorrow is another day.
A/N 2 - So, there it is. Chapter 11. If you made it this far R&R. See you next week the the 'hotel visit.' Ja ne, VR.