--by Michiru

The First Day of School

"How do I look?" Haurka asked, moving her tie around.
"Pretty hot," Michiru smiled. She adjusted Haruka's tie until it was sraight.
"You look good in the uniform, too."
"Thanks."
It was their first day of high school. Both had been pleased to find out that they were in the same grade and in the same classroom.
"Did you go to the junior high that is at this school?" Haruka asked.
"Mmm. I think school starts at 9 here. No, I went to a private school."
"Private school?" Haruka stepped back. "Which private school?"
"Ocean Wind."
"Man, Michi, that's an expensive school! Only the elite go there!"
"I guess."
"It's a junior high girl's school."
"I know."
"Girls go to a finishing school instead of high school when they go there."
"I know. I didn't want to go to finishing school. I wanted to go to high school."
"That's where they teach you to be rich men's ornaments."
"Actually, they teach you things from books, as well," Michiru said mildly.
"Why'd you go there?"
"Because Daddy sent me there. He said it would be a good education and it would teach me to be a lady. It did, and did. I liked it well enough."
"You said that your family was wealthy. Are you going to tell me how wealthy?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yes."
"My family name is Kaiou. What do you associate that name with?"
"Cars," Haruka said promptly. "Good garages, and hot, expensive cars. Race cars. Oh man. Your father is that Kaiou?" Haruka looked shocked.
"Uh huh."
"Wooo."
"If you say so."
"I had a Kaiou car, once. Worked like a dream."
"What happened to it?"
"I crashed it," Haruka shrugged.
"Oh," Michiru winced.
"The name of the game. I still won the race. I crashed right over the finish line. It's still talked about as the most spectacular finish of the track."
"Raceing is an expensive hobby."
"Uh..."
"Well? How wealthy is your family?"
"Not like yours, for sure. My oldest brother sells Kaiou cars. He got me one for my birthday."
"Which one?" Michiru asked mischievously.
"14th," Haruka grinned sheepishly.
"Look, my dad doesn't matter. I'm out of the family. He made that very clear the day he threw me out. Im not complaining, either. I'm happier here, with you, than I've EVER been. Now we have to go, or we'll be late."
"Heaven forbid."
"Come on!"

"It's so big," Michiru whispered, looking at the huge school.
"Your school before was a lot smaller, eh?"
"A quarter of the size."
"Mich, I think we should do one of two things. If we tell people we live together, we have to tell them we're only friends. If we tell them we're girlfriends, we can't let on we live together."
"Why not?" Michiru looked hurt.
"They might call our parents."
"The school doesn't have my father's number."
"But they have mine. My mom might be good about it, but pops would flip out. 'You're living with a girl? When the HELL did this start! You're not even married!'" Haruka did an imitation of her father, that Haruka knew was almost perfect. She knew her dad would get upset. And when he flipped, not even mom could calm him.
"You haven't even told your parents about me?"
The look on Michiru's face made Haruka feel rotten. I should climb under a rock and die, she thought.
"Well, under the circumstances... I was afraid to."
"Why?"
"I'm the baby. I'm the only girl. Dad doesn't know I like girls."
"Ohh," Michiru breathed softly, those big, beautiful blue eyes wide.
"I'm the eighth kid in the family. My oldest brother is 30. He's married to a wonderful lady. I have three neices from him. "My next bro is 29, he has a wonderful wife and two beautiful daughters.
"My 27 year old brother has had two wives and five daughters. My 24 year old brother just got married. She has a bun in the oven. It's a girl.
"My 21 year old brothers, they're twins, are getting married to twin girls. They've already got kids. A set of twins each. Girls. They look like quads. It's cute.
"My 20 year old brother seems to be inclined to stay home for the rest of his existance. No real desire to find a gal. He may be like me, but noone knows. He never goes anywhere. He's a lot of fun, though."
"Sounds like your dad wants a grandson."
"He keeps asking when I'm going to marry one of the track guys. He thinks I like guys. I don't like many guys at all. I have a male friend or two, but They don't do a thing for me. Except gross me right out."
Michiru got out of Haruka's car and waited for her.
Haruka got out, and sighed as she locked the door. "I'm an abberation. I shouldn't have happened."
"Don't say that," Michi hugged her slightly.
"Actualy, that's what the doc said. Both of my parents are male."
"Ohhhhh!!!"
"Cool, huh?"
"Yeah," Michiru smiled that heart-wrenching smile at Haruka.
She had grown up as a tomboy. She would have been a tomboy in any case, but in her household, she had to be one to survive. All her brothers had lived at home when she was born. The oldest left at 20, when she was 4. The rest began to leave as time wore on. However, there was still the factor of living in a house full of guys. She loved her family very much, but she was grateful when they had all turned out straight as arrows. And when they had lots of daughters. She wasn't as left out.
But growing up was different. Sports all the time. Teasing. Haruka was the butt of many practical jokes until two brothers decided to see if they could flush the pretty little five year old down the toilet.
Haruka's mom had been the one to come when the screams began. Not from Haruka, who was kicking, but from the boys who got kicked, and had just realized that their baby sister COULD be flushed to an extent.
Her mother, who cherished her, was angry. Especially because, at that age, Haruka had long, beautiful golden hair that went to the backs of her knees. It had to all be cut off to get her out of the toilet. They had to replace the tolet, and the boys wished they could replace their butts. And then, when no one was looking, cute little, short haired Haruka started a campain. She let the airs out of the tires of their bicycles, put itching powder in their school uniforms, soaked their beds in perfume, and gave each of them a good healthy kick. Right between the legs. Since then, she always gave as good as she got.
But there was a lot of love in the family. They stuck together. They cared about each other. Her father was a good doctor, her mother a pediatrician. They weren't rich, per se, but that was only because of the many kids. Now that all but one was gone, their money stuation was improving drastically. They'd never be the Kaiou's though. But from the sound of Michiru's family, it was just as well.
She squeezed Michi's hand reassuringly as they walked into the huge school. Haruka pulled out her map, and looked at it. "We're on the first floor, lucky for us. Room number 112. That's down this way."
"There's so many people," Michiru said, looking around in wonder.
"Different from the camping trip, huh?"
"Don't say those words. For now, Camping Equals Skunk."
"Alright, love," Haruka grinned. "Camping, camping camping!!!!!"
"I'm gonna rip your heart out and feed it to you" Michiru cried, and took off after Haruka.
Haruka ran into their classroom, and stopped short. A few people were staring at her. Most of those looks were interested. One girl smiled at her, and Haruka winked in return. michiru ran in at that point, and ran into her.
"Oopsie!"
"You skunk," Michiru growled playfully.
"This is our class."
"Oh." Michiru looked around her, all the people looking at her. Most people seemed to know each other already. The boys were looking her up and down and smiling. Michiru ignored them.
"Please take your seats," a soft voice called.
Haruka looked over at the teacher. She was very young with beautiful, flowing green hair. Haruka sat next to Michiru, watching the pretty teacher.
"Let's start by introducing ourselves. I'm Meiou Setsuna. I'm a student teacher. I'm studying to be a designer, but taking teaching courses to 'fall back on' so to speak. To please the folks, mostly. I'm teaching physics. And you are?" She looked at Haruka.
Haruka got to her feet and bowed to the lovely teacher. "I'm Ten'ou Haruka. This is my first time in the school. I have a large family, with seven brothers. I hate modern japanese, my favorite subject is gym. I want to be a proffesional race car driver when I get older." Haruka sat down.
"Thank you Haruka. And you?"
Michiru rose to her feet in a graceful movement that made Haruka's heart, and other places, ache. She was so beautiful. She knew she was gorgeous, but not by how much.
"My name is Kaiou Michiru. This is also my first time at this school. My favorite subject is music, and there is no subject that I disklike. I love to draw, and paint, but I truly wish to become a violinist. I hate camping, bugs, poison ivy, leeches, porcupines, compasses and skunks with a passion," Michiru finished her speech vehemently.
"Oh dear. You didn't have a good summer?"
"Oh, I had the most wonderful summer in my life. Until I went camping. Did I mention I'm not too fond of bees, either?"
"You shouldn't have peed on them, then," Haruka said lazily.
"Haruka!"
Haruka sat up, and looked sheepish. "Sorry."
"Hmmph," Michiru sat down, not looking in her direction.
Oops, Haruka thought ruefully. Keeping her mouth shut seemed to be a wise move in the future.
"I didn't like my first, and only, camping adventure, either," Setsuna smiled at Michiru. "I got chased by a bear."
"How horrible!"
"It could have been worse. He could have caught me. We all learn."
"That camping is for other people, who don't mind sleeping on rocks, and getting little sleep."
"Precisly," Setsuna smiled, and then continued around the room, until the class was over.
Haruka turned to talk to Michiru after the bell rang, to find she wasn't even looking at her.
"Miiichiii...." Haruka called softly.
"Hello, Michiru," a voice said.
Haruka looked up. The teacher was standing in front of Michiru's desk, some books in her arms.
"Hello, Meiou-sensei," Michiru smiled.
"I believe you and I have a few things in commmon. I do a lot of sketching, but usually for clothes. My people are recognizably people, buy not incredibally detailed. I wondered if I might be able to see some of your work. Or if you'd like to see mine." That sounded horrible to Haruka; I'll show you mine if you show me yours...
"Oh, that would be very nice," michiru smiled that marvellous smile at the young, beautiful teachr.
Haruka felt a surge of jealousy run through her so deeply she could taste it. Why was Michiru talking to thi old bat?
"These are lovely," Michiru said softly, looknig through the sketch book.
"Do you think so? I like this one particularily."
"It would look beautiful on you."
"Thank you. This one would suit you very well."
"Do you think?"
"You seem very much a lady."
"It's beautiful."
"Heyt, Michi, you want me to cook tonight?" Haruka broke into the conversation, very rudely.
"Uh... I guess," Michiru gave her a Look. "If you wish," she added coldly.
"I'll even help with the dishes."
"That's nice, Haruka," Michiru turned back to the book. She started taking to the green haired witch again. The witch hadn't seemed to get the message.
"How about a backrub, tonight?"
"Haruka-kun, I'm busy. How about we talk later?"
"Miiiichiiiii!"
"I'm sorry, Meiou-sensei. She's usually not this annoying."
"She?" Setsuna looked at Haruka, startled.
"Yes, Haruka's a girl," Michiru smiled ironically. "You wouldn't know it from looking at her, would you?"
"You know, though, Michiru. But then you look at me every night," Haruka said innocently.
"Would you stop it?" Michiru hissed.
"I have to go, anyway," Setsuna smiled tolerantly. "I'm only going to be teaching here a week, so we don't have to worry, so how would you like to come to my place sometime and talk drawing, or whatever?"
"She's busy."
"Sure, I don't mind," Michiru smiled, ignoring Haruka.
"Here's my phone number. Give me a call when it's convenient for you. My school hours tend to be the same as yours."
"Ok, I'll do that," Michiru said, tucking the number in her wallet.
"No she won't. Trust me," Haruka glared at Setsuna, who did an excellent job of pretending Haruka wasn't there.
"It was nice meeting you," Setsuna smiled.
"You, too. I think we'll get along famously."
"Me, too! See you later!"
"Bye!"
"And good riddence," Haruka grumbled.
Michiru glared at her. "If you ever pull a stunt like that again, you'll be sleeping alone."
"Michi!"
"I mean it, Ten'ou-kun. You're acting like an idiot. I am allowed to have friends."
"She wasn't looking at you like that," Haruka pouted.
"Good grief," Michiru shook her head as the next teacher walked in. Tey all got up and bowed.
"Good morning class, I'm your modern japanese teacher."
Haruka groaned.
"And what was that? A groan? I don't want to hear that talk in my class." the teacher sat down.
"THHHHfffffthhh," Haruka made a noise. The class laughed. The teacher began to look angry.
"That's enough of that. Now I want someone to tell me what modern japanese is good for."
"Nothing," Haruka replied.
"Who are you?"
"Ten'ou Haruka. Number 1690341."
"You are a disruptive influence."
"Who? Me?!" Haruka put a hand to her chest, and looked around, her eyes wide and innocent.
"Yes, you. No more disruptions, please."
"Thank you."
"Excuse me?"
"There's no excuse for you."
The class roared. Haruka felt herself being pulled up bodily, and shoved out into the hallway.. Two buckets of water were placed in her hands, and she was left alone.
Almost.
Down the hall, she saw a beautiful green haired student teacher come out of the bathroom. She stopped a moment to take a sip of water at the fountain. Haruka walked over, and put the buckets of water down.
"Leave her alone."
"Excuse me? Oh, Haruka," Setsuna stood up.
"Leave Michiru alone."
"I don't understand," Setsuna said.
Oh, the snake, Haruka thought. Pretending to be innocent, but about to strike.
"Michiru is mine. Leave her be."
"Oh, that. Haruka, I'm not romantically inclined toward Michiru. You made yorself clear, earlier. And I'm not interested in her. She not my type."
"Liar. You're after my lady."
"Why would I-"
"Because she's smart, beautiful, strong, talented, kind, sweet, gentle, wonderful and belongs to me."
"No one belongs to anyone."
"She said that she was mine," Haruka said forcefully.
"Then what are you worrying about? If she's that attached to you, nothing I do or say could change it," Setsuna said calmly and resonably.
"You might try and break us up. She's the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I'm not letting anyone get in our way," Haruka said, picking up one of the buckets. She threw the contents of the bucket at Setsuna, who cried out in alarm, turning around so her books wouldn't get wet.
Everyone in her class opened the sliding window in the wall and looked out to see Setsuna dripping wet. Haruka was still holding the offending bucket in her hand.
"Haruka!" A shocked voice cried. Michiru came out of the room.
"Michi, I-"
"Setsuna, are you alright?" Michiru went over to Setsuna and touched her shoulder, concerned.
"Yes. Thankfully I had my books in my waterproof bag. I think I'll be alright. I'm just wet and thoroughly embarrassed," Setsuna said with a small, quivering smile.
"You're done for the day, right?"
"Yes, thankfully."
"You go home and take a hot bath. Dry those pretty clothes out, as well. Then take a nap. It'll help, I believe," Michiru said softly.
Haruka stared at the two. Nobody was paying attention to her, and Michiru was being so nice to that witch! Without thinking what she was doing, Haruka threw the other bucket of water on the two green haired girls.
"AAAahhhhh!!" Michiru cried out. Setsuna gasped in added shock.
Michiru turned toward Haruka, barely suppressed anger colouring her eyes. Her face was blank. the lack of expression on her face was more frightening than the anger in her eyes.
She quietly walked over to Haruka, and slapped her across the face, hard enough for Haruka to fall against the wall. She put a hand p to her face, and looked at Michiru, stunned, hurt and betrayed.
Then she realized that that was the same expression on Michiru's face.
"Michi," she whispered. "I'm sorry, Michi."
"You let your jealousy blind you," Michiru said coldly. "You know that I love you, yet you can actually suppose- assume! that another girl would be interesting to me. Am I not allowed to make friends, Haruka? Or must all my friends be homely, just on the off chance that they might be more interesting to me, than you are? All this despite the fact that I pledged myself to you? Does my word mean that little to you?"
"Michi, I'm so sorry. I just thought... That maybe she was going to try to take me away from you."
"And if she had, I would have told her that there wa nobody in this world for me, except for you. If she persisted, I would have asked her not to come around any more. You don't trust me," Michiru turned her head away. Haruka could see the sparkle of tears in her eyes.
"Michiru... You mean everything to me. To think that- I don'tknow what I was thinking. I'm a viscious brute, I guess. I love you," Haruka wiped her eyes furiously. "I'm sorry."
"Tenoh-kun?" The headmaster was standing next to her, looking sternly at her.
"Yes, sir," Haruka hung her head.
"Sir, pleas. Go easy on her," Setsuna spoke up. "She was only a victim of jealousy. She thought I was invading her territory."
"Uh. Well. So."
"I deserve any punishment you meet out, sir."
"You're suspended for tomorrow, Tenoh-kun. Kaioh-kun, Meioh-san, go get yourselves dried off."
"I'm sorry, Meioh-san. I should have trusted Michiru, even if I didn't trust you," Haruka bowed.
"I'm glad you think me beautiful enough to be a threat," setsuna smiled. "But I'm not interested in Mihiru. I'm engages. My fiencee is quite enough for me. And she's the jealous type, herself."
"You're engaged?" Haruka's eyes were very wide, her mouth making a small o.
"Yes, I am," Setsuna chuckled, going into the bathroom. She began to twinst her mass of hair, wringing it out. "She's a real handful. I know what you're going through, Michiru. I only want to be Michiru's friend. We have some interests in common. With your permission, I'd like to be Michiru's friend."
"She doesn't need my permission," Haruka shook her head. "Michiru's her own person. I don't, and won't, control her."
Michiru smiled at Haruka, and hugged her.

Michiru and Haruka were walking back to class with their juice, when the bare breasted, red haired girl ran up to Haruka and wrapped her arms around her.
"Hey babe!" She said.
"Excuse me?" Haruka's eyebrows shot up.
"You'll protect me, won't you?"
"C'mere Ranma!!!" A bunch of guys appeared at the end of the hall, and began to stalk over.
"Pleeeeease! Help me!"
"What did you do?" Michiru asked coldly.
"Do?" Ranma looked up at Haruka with big, innocent blue eyes. "Nothing, I swear!"
"Hmm."
"Ranma, you brat!"
"What?!" Ranma yelled. "You didn't have to do that to me. You got what you deserved."
"We were playing. You really hurt us," a guy said.
"That's you're problem. You shoulda left me alone. Now, leave me and my new b-uh, girlfriend alone."
"Excuse me?" Michiru said, quietly.
"Hmmm?"
"She is not your girlfriend," Michiru said, gently, but firmly prying Ranma off of Haruka. "I suggest you go abnd cover yourself up, young lady. You're an embarrassment to humankind. Play with your friends," she almost roughly shoved Ranma into the group of boys. They eagerly took the howling girl away.
"Michiru!" Haruka cried, shocked. "Do you realize what those boys might do to her?"
"It would probably have been better than what I would have done," Michiru said calmly.
"Michi," Haruka said softly, eyes wide. "You're jealous!"
"Wouldn't you be if a pretty, buxon, half nude girl ran up to me and wrapped herself around me, while I do nothing to prevent it?"
"I'd be raging," Haruka said cheerfully.
"I'm not happy," Michiru smiled slightly.
Haruka slipped an arm around Michiru's slender waist. "I love you, and only you."
"Good," Michiru smiled.

"Michi, am I a brute?"
"No," Michiru said, stealing a tidbit from Haruka's bento.
"Hey!"
"I made it up, I can steal some."
"I'll make lunch tomorrow and then I can steal some from yours."
"You're very jealous, as am I. But not a brute. And I'm not jealous." Michiru smiled, taking a piece of cucumber from Haruka's salad.
"You're not?"
"Very possesive, yes. Jealous, no."
"You're jealous. I hate it when other people LOOK at you. And you hate it too."
"I like it when people appreciate my beauty," Michiru said airily, holding her arm up an making her wrist limp. "It makes me feel adored by all."
"I want to lock that beauty up so only I can look at it," Haruka said, a bit huskily.
"That wouldn't do. I can't feel fulfilled without many admiring eyes.
"I could admire you enough for a thousand sets of eyes."
"Will your eyes shed a thousand sets of tears?" Michiru asked softly.
"For you, anything," Haruka said as softly, taking her hands.
"I'd treasure those tears," Michiru whispered.
"They'll be shed in joy. And in honor of your exalted beauty. I love you more than anything."
"Even more than your car?" Michiru whispered with a smile.
"I would blow the thing up if that were the only thing keeping you from me. You mean more to me than anything in this world. You are my world. My world, my life, my reason to exist," Haruka said with a quiet intensity.
"You're very much my world, as well. You're beautiful in so many ways. I need you. I love you. I more than love you. It's a feeling so deep that it has no words."
"Nor needs them. I feel it, too. Deep within me. In my mind and heart."
"Deep in my soul."
"In my soul. Our souls knew the truth before we did. It was two halves of a whole wandering lost, alone, aimlessly floating about. And then it met its other half, and they joined, seamlessly melding in explosive ecstacy. We share the same soul."
"One soul," Michiru murmured, gazing into Haruka's eyes.
Haruka squeezed Michiru's hands. "Forever my love. Michiru."
"Haruka."
"Girls, are you going to just sit here all day like that, or can we start class? I must admit, the bell rang about three minutes ago."
"Sorry, sensei," Haruka said, sheepishly, her and Michiru putting their desks back.
"Alright then. Let's begin."

--by Michiru