College Life
Part 3: Love bytes -- Enter the competition

by Greenbeans <gbeans@tyrlen.org>


Disclaimers:

Starting with this one, I'll be switching between different
characters perspectives instead of sticking with just
Beans.  Though, I'm not sure how much I'll do this yet, so 
stay tuned.

There's some cursing in this one, but not as much as last 
time.  (That was more of the exception than the rule)

I'll do this once quickly:
[] Are actions -- either real or figuratively
() Are author comments 
*  Are quick footnotes
*word* Are the equivalent of italics or extra emphasis
If I come up with any more I'll repost this.

Comments, thoughts, complaints, compliments, ramblings,
and flames are all accepted.  But the latter two stand a
serious chance of being printed out and turned into rat 
cage lining.

All characters are property of their respective holders.
I belong to myself, thank you, and have a nice day :)

I still have my computer (heh, heh).  Here's part 3.


********** Wednesday **********

"You can't *do* that!"  Haruka handed my paper back to me
in my failed attempt to understand 'basic' Calculus
principles.

"Why not?  The answer still comes out the same," I defended.

"Because --" she began, but Michiru placed a hand on her
arm to silence her.

"Because that isn't the focus of the exercise.  If you
look ahead in the book, what you are trying to do is
covered three sections ahead of where you are.  You need
a good foundation of the base concepts before you can
forge ahead into other things.  Try this problem using the
method the book suggests and see if you can't get it."

I nodded to her and began to work.

The term had only just started, but I felt as though I had
known this pair for most of my life.  

Since hashing things out with Haruka, my friendship with 
the pair has became a lot firmer.  I still didn't know a lot 
about them, but I do enjoy the little hints that I am able
to extract from them.  Mostly that back home, this pair must
have been important somehow, but I had no idea how or why.

I'd also had a chance to consider what their relationship
with each other meant to me.  It didn't draw my attention
when I thought it was a he and she.  Except to say it was
romantic.  It's still romantic, but well, as Haruka would
undoubtedly say, "It's none of my damn business."

So I'll leave it at that.  Thought I do enjoy watching the 
little things they do unconsciously that are so cute.  Just
like the young couple in love that they are.  Like how they
play music together.

Early morning last Sunday in the student union I had heard
soft piano music being played. I knew exactly where to go to 
find the source.  This time I accepted Michiru's offer to 
stay and listen.  I don't even think Haruka minded that much.

I could tell that their playing music together was a very
special time for them and I felt honored at getting to 
witness it.  The sweet tones they produced while alternately 
being challenged and supported by the other made their music 
soar to heights that nearly brought tears to my eyes.

Few had such skill as they did.  Few had such a strong bond as
they did.  It was a fragile thing that I feared breaking with
a breath as I watched them.  But they paid me no notice when
they were enthralled with their playing, which relieved me of
some of my guilt at intruding on their special time.

The news of my discovering Haruka was a female spread 
throughout the campus like wild fire.  Many got a good laugh
at my putting my foot in my mouth.  Some did come up to me 
and admitted to making the same mistake.

I believe that most of the student body had mistook her.  The
news was spread by every means short of putting it in the 
school newspaper and spaming the student body.

Fortunately, Haruka doesn't tease me about it.  She 
understands that I have limits and stays within them.  
Unfortunately, their are still plenty of subjects within 
bounds for her to tease me about.

One of her favorites is my lack of a boyfriend.  I'd like to
point out now that she isn't being cruel by teasing me on 
this subject.  The fact is, that being one of the rare 
"female" specimens at a male dominated technical school does 
cause for some interesting situations.

The source of Haruka's amusement is; with a half dozen guys
chasing me at any given time, why didn't I chose one?  Did I
have leanings the same way as her and Michiru?

To which I would firmly deny.  She'd smirk and ask why am I
getting so defensive?

At times, Haruka could be downright aggravating!  Michiru 
would just sit there smiling or chuckling a little.  
Individually, they were alright, but together -- augh! -- 
some things just shouldn't be mixed!

"Here," I handed my paper over for examination.

"That's the way," Haruka gave me a small smile.  I felt warmed
by it.  I'd noticed that she tended to grimace a lot and only
smiled when with Michiru.  For her to share that with me was
an event and should be noted as so.

Then her smile turned wicked.  "One down, 19 more to go," she 
handed the page back to me.

I groaned inwardly at the thought.  "Why don't you two go play
that racing game while I crunch these problems out?"  I'd
noticed that Haruka really liked the F-1 racing game they had
here.  The few times I raced against her I was beaten before I
had gotten off the starting line just about.  She had a real
talent for it.

"Good idea," she said while digging into her pockets for some
quarters.

"Are you sure you will be alright?"  Michiru asked.

"It's okay, if I have any problems I'll pull Haruka away from 
the steering wheel."

"Only if you beat me first," she said with a glint in her eye.

"Someday," I promised.  "Go on, shoo."

Haruka hooked Michiru around the arm and pulled her to the 
arcade machines.

*****

Michiru sat contemplatively (is that even a word?) while 
watching Haruka turn another challenger away unsuccessful.
Life here in the US has been quiet when compared to their
lives in Japan a few years ago.

With Galaxia's threat turned away, their lives as Senshi 
had become next to non-existent.  Everyone stood guard for 
over year after that waiting for another threat to present 
itself, but none had.

During that time and still, she and Haruka practiced everyday
to improve their skills.  Even so, it seems that life has
returned to 'normal'.

They had come to the decision to pick up where they had left
off in school.  They had the opportunity to go to the US and
study for a year.  Both of them wanted to go, but they 
didn't want to leave in case a threat came.

Usagi was the one that convinced them to leave.  'Nothing
had happened for years and if something did, Michiru would
probably be one of the first to know it.  Besides, I have
everyone else to look after me.  Why shouldn't you pursue
your dreams?'  She had argued.

It was good enough for them and the arrangements were made.
They weren't able to attend the same school, but these two
schools were only 10 miles apart with their house between 
them.

Haruka had finally remembered to get her international
driving license (thanks Tim ;) last time she was here.  It
hadn't taken her long to find a car to her liking.  Having
everyone drive on the wrong side of the road didn't seem
to bother Haruka as much as it bothered her.  It seemed 
backwards to her.

Haruka took many of the things that happened here in stride.
Sure, she had been to the US before, but not nearly as many
times as Haruka.  She secretly thought that part of her easy
acceptance of things was due to the fact that some of them
were as outlandish as she could be.  

Many Americans acted with the mentality that it was their 
job to forge a new path even if a well established one was 
readily available; which matched Haruka's mindset at times.  
Haruka wanted to find the best way herself, and she dedicated
herself to helping Haruka in her own way.

Every extreme needed it's balance.  Together, they had struck
a level base for furthering each other.

"May I join you?"  A youth that was on the verge of manhood
asked from across the table.

She looked to see if Haruka was nearly finished with her game,
but she wasn't, so she nodded.  It would be nice to have 
someone to talk to while she waited.

"I've seen you around, but not in any classes.  My name's 
Andy."  He would be rather good looking in a year of two, but
was still in the process of filling out.  She was sure that
newly awakened hormones had a large part to do with him
sitting with her.

"I am Michiru.  I don't attend classes here," she responded.

"Oh?  Why do you hang around here then?"  He leaned forward.

Michiru leaned back in her chair and nodded over the Haruka.
(Who was looking rather masculine today)

She could almost hear Andy's hopes as they shattered right 
there.

"Michiru!"  Beans called from halfway across the room.  Haruka
only afforded her a brief glance before returning to her game.

"Michiru," she said again once she reached the table, "I need
help on problem 17."  She dumped all her books and papers
onto the table.  Sitting down, she began to search for the 
right one.

"Beans, have you met Andy before?"  She asked.  Beans glanced
up long enough to get a look at him, then continued searching.

"You're in section 1 lab of Computers 101, right?"

"Yes, I am," he answered somewhat dazed.  Michiru turned away
and chuckled some into her hand.  Andy was definitely a victim
of his hormones.

"I cover sections 2 and 3," she commented while still looking
for the right paper.

"I guess that means you don't have to take the class, huh?"
He said, trying to be witty.

'Oh,' Michiru sighed.  'Go easy on him, Beans, he doesn't know
any better,' she encouraged mentally.

She looked up at him with an odd expression on her face.  
"Yeah," she drawled slowly.

'Good girl!'  She cheered.  'Don't crush him before you get a 
chance to know him.'

*****

Haruka noticed some computer geek sitting down with Michiru.
She was tempted to go over and introduce herself when another
girl popped a quarter into the machine to challenge her.

Her challenger wasn't that good, so she was able to play and
half watch the table at the same time.  Michiru nodded over
to her and the boy's head dropped in disappointment.

She smiled and turned her full attention back to the game.

Beans came in calling for Michiru.  'Good, let her ask
Michiru while I play.'

Then the power to the machine was cut off when some girl that
was a bigger klutz than Usagi managed to knock out the plugs
to the machines on either side of her.  She was going to make
an issue of it, but decided against it in favor of going to
see what this geek was up to since he hadn't left Michiru yet.

She came up behind his chair and 'accidentally' kicked it with
her foot.  The geek looked up to her.

"Haruka Ten'ou," she introduced herself while glaring down
on him.

"A-- Andy," he stuttered.

"Found it," Beans proclaimed as she pulled a sheet out of 
the mess she'd brought with her to the table.

Andy, who sat next to Beans, leaned over to look at her 
work.  "Um, I think that you forgot to flip you fractions
over," he said while trying to avoid her gaze.

"Huh?"

"Well, flip them over like this, add them to that, then
factor this out and you'll have your solution," he 
explained while pointing out things on her paper.

"You're right," Michiru said from the other side of Beans.
She didn't like the idea of Michiru having anything to do
with this geek.

"I think we should return to the lounge," she said with her
usual statement-not-a-question tone.

"But I just got settled," Beans protested.

"Well, unsettle," she snapped and began to pick up books.
Michiru helped with the papers.  They returned to the 
lounge leaving Andy at the table.

********** Friday **********

Haruka and I were 'enjoying' yet another horribly long
Calculus assignment.  Luckily, I actually understood this
lesson and we were breezing along when Andy came into
the lounge.

"Hello, have either of you seen Michiru?"  He asked.  I
could almost see the daggers coming out of Haruka's eyes 
at him for asking for her partner.  Not that I blamed her
personally.

"No, we haven't," I answered.

"Oh, then could you please give her this?"  He held out a 
slip of paper.  I snagged it before Haruka could.

"No prob," I said as he left.

"What is it?"  Haruka asked suspiciously.

I unfolded the paper.  "His phone number."

"Give it to me!"  She demanded.

"No, because if I give it to you Michiru will never get it,"
I defended while stuffing the piece of paper in my shirt
pocket.

"Damn straight!"  She reached for my pocket.

"Haruka, knock it off!  You don't know *what* he wants.  We'll
give it to Michiru and let *her* decide what to do with it.
Or don't you trust Michiru with a guys phone number?" I
taunted.

"Damn you --"

"Many times over for the things that I've done.  Now let's
finish this homework, okay?"  She sat back into the couch
and didn't go for the paper anymore.

After we finished, I gave the slip to Haruka.  I knew that
she wouldn't do anything to it and would deliver it to 
Michiru just to prove that she did trust her.

I smiled inwardly.  Haruka would never turn down a challenge.

********** Monday **********

I was playing Hearts against Haruka on the computer before me.  
I was waiting for someone to need help with their lab.  The 
five people that were still here knew what they were doing; 
they were just slow.  A disadvantage of a three hour lab 
when you were only needed during the first 20 minutes.

Haruka was killing time because Michiru wouldn't need to be
picked up from classes for another hour.  It was kind of her to
stick around and keep me company, so I let her win fairly
often to keep her interested in the game.  She may be able to 
beat me at racing games, but Hearts I can handle.

I had often considered loading a *real* game onto one of these 
computers, but it was against school policy, and, in theory, I 
upheld school policy.  Oh well....

I was dying to know if Michiru had called Andy during the
weekend.  Finally, I gave up to curiosity and asked Haruka.

She grimaced.  "Yes, she called him.  I don't know what they
discussed, but they talked for a good half hour."  She
seemed quite annoyed by this.  She was easily distracted by it
because I *couldn't* let her win, even if I tried, with the 
cards she was playing.

"I'm sure it was nothing important," I reassured.  Haruka got
jealous too easily, not that Michiru wasn't one worth getting
jealous over.  She'd let this eat at her until she got angry 
and pounded on Andy; who probably wouldn't have realized what
he'd done.

"Let it go, Haruka.  You two have a strong, trusting, 
relationship.  I'm sure a guy like him would never draw her
away from you.  Besides, I thought you both had leanings for
those of the same sex.  If you hadn't noticed, Andy is a MALE.
What value would a *guy* have for her?"

She thought about that for several minutes.  By now it was an
all out slaughter against her in the game.

"I guess you're right, but I still don't like him," she 
grumbled.

"If that's your prerogative," I replied.

"Hey!  When did I get 300 points added to my score?!"

I laughed.  "You shouldn't let the little things distract 
you --"  Michiru walked into the lab as my words trailed off.

"Michiru, how did you get here?  I wasn't supposed to pick you
up for another 45 minutes," Haruka asked stunned.

"Oh, Andy gave me a ride over," she answered easily.

Haruka looked about ready to kill.

*****

The lab held several sets of emotions in an electric mix
that threatened to spark at anytime.  

The five who were working stopped to watch the upcoming 
exchange.

Beans ceased her pounding of Haruka at Hearts to also watch.

Michiru looked at everyone with a mix of mild confusion
and ignorance at what she'd done.

95% of the surging emotions were coming from Haruka.  Her
first impulse was to go find that geek and make sure that
he never walked straight again.  Her second impulse was to
recess into herself and cry at being rejected by Michiru.
Her third impulse was to become as the wind while 
plummeting off a cliff to her death.  

"Haruka, what's wrong?"  Michiru walked up to put her hand
on the shoulder of the sheet white Haruka.

"I-- I thought you loved me," she whispered.  The pain in 
her words ripped at everyone's heart.

Michiru's eyes opened wide in shock.  She pulled Haruka
into a tight hug.  "What would ever make you think that I
didn't?"

Silent tears were forming in her eyes as she hid her face 
in Michiru blouse.

'That's it,' Beans decided.  She went around to each person
left and told them to move into the lab next door.  She
followed them out while locking the door behind her.

*****

Beans waited in the other lab for over an hour.  Finally, she 
decided to peek her head in the door to see if everything was 
alright.

The lights were off and all the computers were shut down
except Haruka's.  She walked over so she could read the 
screen.

"Arigato Mame-san" *

She smiled softly before turning it off and locking the lab
back up.

********** End part 3 **********


* Quick Translation: Arigato -- thank you
      		     Mame -- bean

No bristling at the term "computer geek"!  I'm one myself and
if that's how I want to refer to our breed, that's that!
Besides, most geeks I know *like* that term.

Next episode:  A continuation of the "Love bytes" story called 
"True intentions."  Beans begins to smell a trap when this
elusive pair begins to get rather friendly.  Before long (like 
before the end of the episode :) she'll learn their true 
intentions.

I'd like to acknowledge some of my favorite fanfic authors
whom I drew inspiration from:

* Tim Nolan: "Awakening", "Obligations"
Thank you for answering all of my outer Senshi questions =)

* Jackie Chiang: "Senshi Kurai"
I really liked this fic for being serious and still having fun!

* Brett Handy: "Oh my God!!" Series
Thanks for all the advice and encouragement you've given, mate!
Check out his Oh My Goddess and Ranma fics at his website at:
http://www.ozanime.com/darkwind/

* A Sailor Moon Romance:
For posting this and providing me with plenty of fics to read ;)
http://ctdnet.acns.nwu.edu/~aerdnahu/

Also:

* Blitz Krieg (aka Macboy):
"I can't believe you put yourself in this!"  And after learning
my plans for the series... "You are evil, truly evil!"  Thanks
for the vote of confidence Blitz =P 
