Chapter 2 : More about you.
"You sure you'll be alright?" Asked Haruka concerned. They finally found the residence in which Michiru's sister lived but after several rings and calls, there's still no answer.
"Yes, thank you. I think she will be home soon." Replied Michiru softly. She didn't want to take more of Haruka's time for she already spent two hours driving around, looking for the residence and then spent one hour waiting with her for an answer. "You shouldn't worry too much about me. You certainly have someone waiting for you, don't you?" The aqua haired girl added, but honestly she didn't want the blonde to leave now and maybe back to someone.
"Well, not really." Haruka answered looking sideway. She was living alone and had for several months now. Before, she used to live in her parents house but once she graduated and started to work she wanted to know what it meant to live by herself, so she ended living in a cold apartment, alone.
"How come?" Michiru asked instinctively. She felt somehow relieved to know that the blonde was living alone but it also pained her to know that she will be back to a cold home.
"Hm well, I wanted to know what it was to live away from your parents and to be independent. So I'm living alone now." Haruka replied smiling. "What about you? Are you going to live in Tokyo or are you just visiting?" Asked Haruka curious.
"Well, I don't know. I think... I hope I could live here but I will have to ask my sister first." Answered Michiru looking out at the night sky.
"I see." Said Haruka, she knew from the expression on the aqua haired girl's face that there might be a family problem somewhere but she didn't want to pry or to mind others business, unless they wanted to speak about it.
"I will wait with you until your sister's back." She offered after a moment of silence.
"You know you don't have to-" Started Michiru but was interrupted before she could say another word.
"I know but I want to." Interrupted Haruka smiling gently. She then leant against her car and glanced to her right.
Michiru looked at the blonde with a bright smile and couldn't help herself but to thank any god up there for giving her the chance to meet this formidable being.
.:x:.
Michiru looked at the blonde with a tender smile, Haruka had decided a while ago that it was better to wait in the car, so they had both hopped in but after a while the blonde started to drift off. Michiru not wanting to disturb Haruka, decided after a moment to lower the volume of the radio.
However, Haruka slowly opened her eyes, she then turned to face Michiru and smiled. "I like this piece... it's calm and relaxing. Schubert's serenade is my favourite."
"I'm sorry... I thought you were asleep." Said Michiru blushing slightly. She had been staring at the blonde for some moment, believing she was asleep, but now knowing she wasn't Michiru felt embarrassed and she hoped Haruka didn't sense her eyes on her.
"It's okay, I just like to close my eyes when I'm listening to classical music." Explained Haruka smiling. "What time is it now by the way?" She then asked.
"Oh...Hm it's already 8p.m." She told the blonde. She knew it was late now and that Haruka probably had to go but she didn't want to be alone.
Haruka saw the sad expression on Michiru face and knew that Michiru probably thought that she had to go now. It wasn't totally untrue though, she had to wake up early tomorrow but she didn't want to leave Michiru alone either. They were both exhausted from the trip and to wait in the dark didn't help the tiredness to go away. "Did you leave a message on her cellphone?" Asked Haruka. She had to find a way to help both of them from waiting indefinitely and maybe hopelessly.
"Yes..." Replied Michiru sadly, she knew what that question implied. "I told her I came one day earlier and that I was waiting with a friend in front of her building."
"Can you try to call her again? See if she's now reachable?" Asked Haruka. "And if she's not, you can leave her another message... saying that you will come again tomorrow ...and that for tonight you will stay at... your friend's." She then added slightly embarrassed. It was the only solution she found and it wasn't difficult to apply, just embarrassing.
Michiru glanced at Haruka with wide eyes and then realized that Haruka was waiting for an answer. She then diverted her eyes from the blonde and blushed. "Well I...I can try." She answered as she took out her cellphone and called again.
A part of Michiru wished that her sister didn't answer but another part wished she would answer. She wanted to spend more time with Haruka and learn to know her better but to spend the night at her house was too sudden. She didn't know the blonde really well after all. She was lost in her thought that she practically dropped her cellphone when her sister spoke up. "Michi-chan ? Are you alright ?...Michi-chan ?"
Haruka was looking at her with a grin and turned off the radio. Michiru seeing Haruka's action smiled back and took a deep breath. "I'm alright, Onee-san. It's just that I hadn't expected to get through, since I already tried a dozen of times."
"I'm so sorry Michi-chan, I forgot my cellphone in my car...anyway I'll be there in about fifteen minutes. Okay? We'll talk later." Said Setsuna concerned.
"Okay, I don't have a choice anyway." Replied Michiru smiling. "See you in fifteen minutes then."
Michiru then looked up at Haruka and smiled. "Well, she will be here soon." She said but then found that the word soon was not really appropriated for in less than fifteen minutes Haruka will leave and probably never came across her life again.
"I'm happy for you." Haruka said honestly. "She was probably worried about you." She added not really knowing what to say. She was glad that Michiru finally reached her sister, but she felt a little sad to leave the smaller woman's company. She didn't want to admit it, but it has been a long time since she had such a pleasant company.
"Yes, she sounded concerned..." Confirmed Michiru. She didn't know when it started but she could feel a nervous atmosphere surrounding them. 'Maybe... she is sad too...' Thought Michiru as she glanced to where the blonde was sitting silently.
Suddenly, the silence was quietly weighting on them, they both felt awkward and nervous in each other presence. The darkness of the night and the confinement of the car didn't help them either. They stayed like this for a while, both trying to find something to say.
After a moment, Haruka took her courage in both hands and tried to dissipate this heavy atmosphere. Slowly, she turned to Michiru and opened her mouth to say something but before she could speak, the sound of a fast car reached them. Suddenly aware of who the owner of the coming car might be, they both slowly get out of the car.
The car came to a halt just behind them, and before they could see the owner's face, the light of the car blinded them briefly.
Turning off the light, the owner climbed out of the car and walked to them hastily. "Michi-chan, I'm so happy to see you again!" Said Setsuna as she took eagerly both Michiru's hands in a tender hold.
Michiru looked at her sister with happiness in her eyes, it had already been more than a year now since she had seen her sister. "Me too Onee-san, it's been so long since you left...I miss you so much." Said Michiru with tears in her eyes.
Seeing this, Setsuna took Michiru in her arms and hugged her tightly. She had missed her little sister dearly too. "I miss you too." She whispered squeezing her eyes in order to hold her tears.
As she opened her eyes, she saw the tall silhouette of a person and immediately remembered Michiru's message. Disengaging herself from the embrace, she looked at Michiru and smiled. "I think there's someone you want to present me, Michi-chan?"
Michiru who had completely forgotten about Haruka, blushed deeply and apologized to the blonde. "I'm sorry, Haruka-san." She said embarrassed but the gentle smile Haruka gave her, told her she was forgiven. "So Onee-san, this is Haruka-san...a friend. I met her in the train." Said Michiru a little embarrassed, she didn't know how to present the blonde to her sister so she just decided to put it simply. "And Haruka-san, this is my older sister, Setsuna." She then said with a smile.
After Michiru's introduction, Setsuna smiled at Haruka and stretched her hand. "Nice to meet you Haruka-san. I'm sorry you had to keep Michi-chan company."
"Nice to meet you too, and don't be sorry, it was my pleasure." Replied Haruka smiling and shaking Setsuna's hand. As she looked at Setsuna, Haruka couldn't help but to think that Michiru and Setsuna didn't look much like sisters. Setsuna was taller and had straight long dark hair. She was also wearing a suit and looked refined and elegant. 'Maybe different parents with different revenues.' She thought to herself. '...And not my business.'
"Have you eaten yet?" Asked Setsuna, breaking the blonde thought.
"Not yet." Replied Haruka. Before she could ask in return, Setsuna spoke again. "Then would you like to come to my apartment and join us? It's the least I could offer."
Michiru hoped Haruka would say yes but she knew once she looked at Haruka that she would refuse.
"Thank you, but I must refuse your invitation. It would have been my pleasure though if only I didn't have to go to work tomorrow." Replied politely Haruka. She wished she could have stay a little bit longer with company but she lived in the other side of Tokyo and she still had papers to prepare.
"I understand, work is sometime a priority." She smiled to Haruka understanding.
Haruka suddenly felt embarrassed, she didn't know how to ask Michiru if they could keep in touch and in front of her sister nonetheless. She didn't even know if Michiru wanted to, so she just decided not to ask for fear of embarrassment. "Well, I think I should go now." She finally said a little nervous.
"Oh, you sure you don't want to come up for a drink at least?" Asked Setsuna sincerely. She was grateful to the blonde and wanted to thank her somehow.
"Yes, thank you though." Smiled back Haruka. She had never been nervous before when she had to take her leave, but tonight it was somehow different and it annoyed her.
"I...I guess you have to work early tomorrow." Said Michiru softly. She didn't know what to say to the blonde now that she was going to leave. She wanted to ask for her number but she feared it would appear improper. 'Maybe, she didn't want to keep in touch with me.'
"Yes, unfortunately..." Confirmed Haruka.
"Well then, we don't want to keep you more than we already have. Anyway, be careful on the road. It's already dark and you must be tired." Said Setsuna smiling, unaware that both Michiru and Haruka wanted to say something else to each other but didn't have the courage to.
Haruka glanced at Michiru and seeing no reaction from the aqua haired girl, she realized that she was probably the only one who wanted to keep in touch. Slowly she retreated to her car and opened the door. "I will, thank you. Have a good night." She called from her car, she then looked at Michiru and smiled. "See you around Michiru-san." She said softly and climbed in her car.
"Thanks and have a good night too!" Called back Setsuna waving goodbyes.
Michiru just stood unmoving, her heart was threatening to explode and she feared tears would come out if she tried to talk or to walk. She wanted to call after Haruka, to ask her if they could see each other again and to fix a date but she didn't, and now Haruka was gone.
"Michi-chan, are you okay?" Asked Setsuna worried. As soon as Haruka's car was out of sight Setsuna turned to Michiru. She wanted to ask her how she met Haruka and got acquainted so fast but she only found her with tears running down ceaselessly. Instinctively, the taller woman took Michiru in her arms and tried to appease her.
"I will never see her again..." Said softly Michiru into her sister's shoulder, she knew she could have prevented that but she didn't have enough courage to and she regretted it bitterly. She didn't really understand why she was acting like that or why it mattered so much but she did understand that she had enjoyed the blonde company and that she wanted to learn to know her more.
"Why are you saying this? Didn't you both exchange your numbers?" Asked Setsuna somehow surprised by the depth of Michiru sadness for a person she just met.
"No, that's the problem..." Replied Michiru sadly. "I didn't dare to ask..." She then added.
"Oh Michi-chan, I understand..." Said Setsuna as she tightened her embrace. She did understand, she had herself once been too pride to ask and now she regretted it immensely. "But... she knows where you're living." She hesitated, she didn't want to give her sister false hope and she did hope herself that Haruka will try to rekindle.
Michiru slowly pulled away from Setsuna and looked up, her eyes shinning with hope. "Do you think... she will come looking for me?" It wasn't really a question, it sounded more like a plea. She didn't know why herself but something within her needed this friendship, this link to Haruka.
Setsuna seeing her sister expression, immediately regretted what she had just said because she knew that somehow it wouldn't happen, for Haruka would have ask otherwise. "Maybe..." She offered looking away. She didn't understand why Michiru was so engrossed with the tall blonde, but she did understand that Michiru had been fascinated by this imposing and attractive woman, but they weren't from the same age and that's probably why Haruka didn't ask either.
Michiru understood what Setsuna meant by that and instinctively went to her sister's shoulder for comfort. She didn't know why she was so sad or cry so easily for someone she had met only a few hours, but she knew she had enjoyed greatly the blonde company. "I hope... we'll meet again then..."
.:x:.
An: I wish I had more time to write but unfortunately I don't have this leisure. Anyway, this is the second chapter of Lovers' Serenade. The story will move faster in the third one.
And Special thanks to all the reviewers !