Michiru stopper her pacing. *I'm going to lose everything. Neko-chan. Jian-kun. The two people that mean the most to me.* Her legs crumbled beneath her, and she dropped to her knees as the tears she had been fighting all day finally won. Michiru covered her face as her body trembled with the force of her sobs.
Two strong arms slipped around her waist as the young woman was pulled into a warm embrace. She caught her sobs in her throat as Jian-wa drew her close, pressing his cheek against hers. Startled, the girl resisted his touch, but the youth tightened his grip. "Mi-chan, stop. Just let it go. You have to let it go!"
*~*~*~*~*~*
Confused, Michiru froze in Jian-wa's arms. She couldn't just let him see her so weak, so vulnerable. Yet, his touch was so comforting, and she knew she needed his strength. Leaning back into the embrace, she closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his. *If only this moment will last a little longer�I can pretend I'm not losing him. My Jian-wa Chang.*
*~*~*~*~*~*
Jian-wa silent prayed Michiru wouldn't fight him. She was in such pain! It tore him up inside to watch her and do nothing. When she accepted the embrace, he rejoiced in his heart and held her even tighter. He closed his own eyes. *Just this once, let me hold her with all my heart. Before I lose Mizuno Michiru for all time, let this moment last a little longer!*
*~*~*~*~*~*
In the arms of the man she loved but was doomed to lose, images of Michiru's crystal nightmare came to her. This was the way her lover had always held her. Before she watched the destruction of everything she loved again and again, this embrace had been repeated a thousand times.
*I can't make him do this. He doesn't love me. He shouldn't have to comfort someone he cares nothing for.* The amethyst jewels snapped open as she pulled free. Standing up she walked several paces away, unwilling to face Jian-wa until she could stop crying.
"Mi-chan-"
"I don't understand. Does everyone else know that Tenshi-kun is a woman and that Neko-chan is gay?! I mean, when were they planning on telling me this? At their wedding when they were pronounced woman and wife!" Michiru tried to put as much anger and bitterness into her words as she could, but the effort fell flat. It sounded more horse and squeaky than angry and bitter. She knew she was slipping into old habits of avoiding the real subject that was upsetting her.
*~*~*~*~*~*
When Michiru pulled free, Jian-wa could feel her pulling him apart as well. It was over. She was really going to end it between them. She started some spouting about how angry she was at Neko, but it was clear the words were empty. Sure, she had a right to be upset, but Michiru loved her twin too much to be angry for long.
"Mi-chan, I know you're upset, but this is something you and Neko-chan are going to have to work out between the two of you. Now, I can tell you are not really angry at your sister. Talk to me, Mi-chan! Don't shut me out. Not anymore. Onegai�"
Trying not to tremble, Michiru made a conscious effort to bring herself under control. She wiped the last of the tears from her eyes and put on a smile. She almost lost it again when she looked at Jian-wa. The black eye she had given him the night before was plan as day. *He must hate me. How could he not?*
"You're right, Jian-kun. I'm sorry. I shouldn't drag you into something that is between me and Neko-chan."
"Mi-chan-"
"No, really. I'm fine. Yeah, I'm fine. So, what was it you wanted to talk to me about? I mean, you should know that I have completely recovered from my injuries and all that. I'm strong enough to take whatever it is you want to say to me!" She was speaking so forcefully that Jian-wa suspected Michiru was trying to convince
both of them it was true.
"Mi-chan-"
"I mean it. Don't worry about me. No more eggshells. So, just go ahead! I know you want to break up, so please just do it! Do it quickly! Onegai!"
The young man paused. *Me want to break up with her?! I thought she was the one who wanted to break up with me. I mean, I did try to kill both her and her entire family.*
Frowning, he breaks the silence in a confused voice. "Mi-chan?"
"Onegai, just do it! I can't bear the idea of you being unhappy because you're with me! If I am the cause of your unhappiness, then I should have died at the dance! Maybe then I wouldn't feel so dead inside, because I would be dead outside as well! I love you so much. I just want you to have a happy life." The second Mizuno twin was once again in tears by the end of her confessional.
Jian-wa instantly rose to his feet and rushed to hold the beauty before him. "Mi-chan, I didn't know! I didn't know!" He was elated. *She loves me! She loves me!!*
Michiru shied away, uncertain. "I don't want you to feel obligated as a friend to pretend anymore that-"
Ignoring her protests, he swept the girl into his arms, kissing her deeply.
She froze. *Is this a joke?! Jian-kun doesn't mean it, does he?* As before, images of her nightmare came to mind. The kiss she had shared forced its way into her mind. The embrace was the same, the warmth of Jian-wa against her. This was identical to the kiss her koibito had given her countless times before. A kiss of love.
Finally responding, Michiru returned the kiss, pulling Jian-wa closer. Sometime later, they ended the kiss, holding each other as if for dear life. Snuggling into the crook of Jian-wa's neck, Michiru sighed. "That was even better in real life."
"What was?"
"Your kiss. It's better in real life than in my dreams."
Raising his head, the youth smiled roguishly. With a finger under her chin, he gently forced Michiru to meet his gaze. "Have you been dreaming about me without telling me?"
All mirth drained out the purple orbs. Nodding gravely, she pursed her lips. "Most of my life."
Realizing Michiru was not flirting, he reached behind his neck and took her hands into his own. Allowing his own smile to fade into a more serious expression, he systematically threaded his fingers through hers. "Tell me," he requested softly.
Nodding, the teen led her love under the rain block for a long talk just in time to escape the icy rain that poured down as the sky burst open.
*~*~*~*~*~*
A few hours later, Michiru brought her motorcycle to a stop in the Mizuno driveway. *Talk about your life-changing couple of days. I go from amnesia victim to wicked overzealous sister, killer of evil boyfriends that are really girlfriends! Yay for me! Ugh. Well, at least everything is cleared up between Jian-kun and me. We're together, and have a date scheduled for Saturday. Now I just have to beg Neko for forgiveness. Shouldn't be too hard! Right?*
Laughing nervously, she pulled the key from the ignition. Wondering if she should have stopped to buy coffee ice cream before throwing herself at her sister's feet, she headed inside. "Here goes nothing�"
(Heather wrote that, not me ;-D)
