    Confession. This story, I had previously written
in third person, I liked it well enough. Taking a read
through, I thought it would be more emotional if told
in first, Ten'Ou Haruka being the person in question.
Enjoy~ Michie.  michiru10@aol.com

       Confession.


     I have been lying awake all night deciding on whether
or not to tell Michiru how I feel. It had taken me so long
to realize that I was in love with Michiru, even longer
to come to grips with the idea of telling her. I shouldn't
feign sleep any longer, I may as well just shower and
prepare for today.

    Ambling out of the bed I reached the bathroom. I
ran my fingers through my hair before looking into the
mirror..My resolve fell away. Staring into the mirror a
 moment, I turned away. A girl's body. Looking again,
at my reflection I scanned myself, clad in boxers and
a ratty tank top. Barely female my form, broad shoulders,
slim hips, rather long waisted, my arms and legs muscled
from training and track. Not much of a chest to speak of..
not like I care.

    All the same, it wasn't that I didn't like myself, it 
is that I am a girl, under my perfected male guise....Because
it gave me pause as to whether Michiru would love me,
regardless. Sliding my fingers down the cold glass, watching
my reflection, I got frustrated and balled my fist, bringing
it into the glass hard..I forgot for a moment, then looked
down at my hand. "Shimatta." I mumbled, picking away the
larger shards...I'll take care of it in the shower.


     "Hmm....what to wear....yay.." I half heartedly said,
looking through the closet I found a suitable choice,
a nice navy dress suit, nice cut, especially the trousers
they just fell right, it was tailored nicely. Michiru likes
this suit on me, and after all, I do want to look nice for
her.

     Tearing the comb down my hair, my thoughts drifted
not so far as to forget the cowlick I am trying to vanquish.
Tonight I was going to take Michiru on a dinner train...She
had read about it once, and had desperately wanted to go.
The train however, was exclusive, and tickets were hard to 
come by, luckily, my racing talents helped me, I slipped my
name to the lobby clerk, and was readily confirmed a place
for tonight. Although, it was last month that I had done so,
my bit of name, helped but no so much that it wasn't on top
of the waiting list.

     I hadn't yet told Michiru our destination, just that
she should dress well, that's silly, Michiru always
dresses in the most elegant manner, not neccesarily showy..
.just feminine...although I did note she liked a lot of 
designer labels. Looking down at my cleaned hand, it 
scabbed lightly, I didn't think it warranted a bandage.



     Getting into the car, I started it up and proceeded
to shift, what's this? Sweaty palms. How odd. This is new,
that's never happened before. My stomach was turning,
I can't believe how nervous I am....I have to tell her, no
question about that, if I don't, it would be wrong. "Gomen
Nasai,Michiru." I whispered to the confines of my car.
"Don't hate me." Doing what I always do to make myself
feel good, I arrongantly pulled out in front of the other
cars, the wind and speed carrying me.

     Slowing down considerabley, I pulled into the driveway
of the Kaiou home, quite lovely, rather sizable home. More
like a mansion, private and on the beach...Michiru was alone
most of the time in this monster of a house...Business usually 
claiming her parents away. I stopped the car, and
rested my head on the wheel...I am gonna need a few
moment's to collect myself.

     This house, held my happiest times. Michiru showed me so much that
I would have never appreciated without her. Art, painting, in fact she
did show me how to paint, although I am not any good at it, she insits I
do an admirable job...Also there is a conservatory where she practices
her violin, it's not really that she needs to, more like she plays for
pleasure. There is a drop dead piano, a beautiful item crafted in
ivory and moulded wood it is there that I play for her. I
*only* play for her.

     I think I have spent enough time reminiscing. I coughed
nervously, before I knocked...smoothing my tie, I  recovered. 
A moment or so lapsed. Michiru herself greeted
me at the door, she was smiling shyly. "Haruka, please,
come in." she stepped aside so I could come in, I felt
my cheeks burn a bit as she appraised my outfit.

   "Um, am I on fire?" As corny as that was, I had to say
*something* for some reason, her looking at me, made
me uncomfortable....like she could see through me.

     "Gomen!" Michiru looked down, fought a blush, and
grabbed her coat. "No, I just....I rather like you in that,
it suits you so well, quite handsomely." She nodded.

     I offered her my arm, she giggled and off we were to the car. I
opened her door, and shut it as she got in. Such
a lady Michiru is, she looked very pretty, so that I couldn't tell her
so...which I usually do. She wore
a slip-style dress that was blue pastel linen. The dress
was comely, it went very well with her skin tone, and that
gorgeous head of wavy turquoise hair.


     "You look pretty today, is that linen?" I mustered while starting
the car. "You think? Hai, linen it is."
Michiru sounded pleased at my knowledge of fashion..
What I don't know about fashion could fill..........Just as
I reached for the gear shift, Michiru grabbed my hand
and looked at me frantically. Shimatta! I forgot, the cuts-
should have bandaged them, baka!

     "What happened?" Her eyes darted around my face anxiously. I
couldn't answer for a moment, my heart was
racing from her hands holding mine, I stared at her small
well manicured ones holding my bloodied one. Just a
gesture of concern, but I love her.

    "Haruka!" She insisted breaking my reverie. Snapping
out of it I looked at her. Michiru must of thought, I didn't
want her touching me, for she withdrew her hands into her
lap. "Oh, was just working out with the makiwara board again."
A lie yes, but it suited my needs.

     Michiru's eyebrow raised. "And just one hand 
is bloodied? Then she smiled at me, relief flooded her
delicate features. Obviously she saw through it, but
wasn't going to make light of it. I shrugged and 
grinned at her before resuming shifting. Off we go.


     "So, where is it we are going?" Michiru asked turning her head from
the window to look at my profile. My nerves
were strung tight...I could feel her blue eyes on me. "Hmm,
well I was gonna take you someplace nice....but.......all I could get
were some tickets for a dinner on some chi-chi
train." I held deadpan voice, and managed not to grin.



      "Uh!" Seldom was she at a loss for words, her jaw dropped a moment
before she regained composure. "You
mean that one we had rea-." I cut her off. "One in the same!" I turned
to her and grinned before returning my
sights on the road. "Oh Haruka, however in the world did you? I just
love you!" Oh god. I didn't hear that. Oh god.
I can't take that out of context. Solution: say nothing.


     "I can't believe it, you are so wonderful to me, really...I can not
tell you how much I appreciate it."
Michiru's voice dipped at the end. I was about to
say something when I felt her hand on my shoulder.
"Thank you." She whispered, then resuming into
her previous position, hands neatly folded in her lap.

     "Come now, you know I said, I'd take you if I could
find a way...I know how much you wanted to go." How
ever am I going to make it through tonight? "Yes, but,
oh I just never imagined I would go! It's a dream
come true!" She paused, but I sensed Michiru hadn't
finished.


     "And to think it is that you are taking me..." Michiru
mused quietly, I don't think she knew she spoke aloud.
So, I had the good graces to not speak. Rather, my heart
stopped, and I sort of got tunnel vision. Every thought
and emotion I dwelled on last night, raced through my mind.
If she said anything more..I hadn't heard it.


     At my first oppurtunity, I pulled over into a rest area..The fates
must have been smiling on me, because
it was overlooking the water...It hadn't mattered to me,
that there were a couple of other cars there, this would
be the time I told her....I just hope it doesn't ruin dinner
for her...I can give her the tickets and drop her off...Lots
of self-destructing thoughts swam around.


     After I shut off the car, I shut my eyes to collect my thoughts.
Taking a large breath, I turned to face Michiru,
she had a wistful look on her face, she appeared to not
be looking at me. I faltered, after all it couldn't be that she *was*
actually looking at me this way.


     "Michiru?" Questioning myself, I wonder if telling is
such a grand idea. "Hai?" she answered softly, her head
tilted slightly. "I......hmm." Enter cough here. "Michiru,
I have to tell you something....it's very important..."
God. That's helpful.....Oh yes, let's see....blurt out, hey
I am in love with you....that's suave.

     
     "What ever is it? Hmm, Haruka?" Michiru leaned over
and clasped one of her hands over my injured one-still
on the gear shift. Fortunately I didn't blush this time, stealing a
glance at her, she was. You're lovely when you
blush....Michiru...


     "I have to tell you something, and I don't know how you are going
to react." I locked my eyes with hers, Michiru
was smiling gently, and squeezed my hand. "What is it?"
Her eyes opened widely waiting for my answer. I bit 
my lip and swallowed my pride.


     "I never meant to hurt you Michiru, I swear it.
...Michiru, I love you, I love you and I want to...
be with you...Forever. I was immeadiately attracted
to you when I first saw you.....Then as we became
friends, and spent more time together....I fell in love
with you..." I gritted my teeth, my eyes were burning..
Damn....That meant tears. "I can drop you off at the-"
Nothing.....I can't say anything else, just work on holding
these tears in.


     I couldn't look at her, just stared at the floormat. "Haruka." She
whispered, all of the sudden I felt
Michiru's arms around me, she held me close to her.
"Don't cry." I felt myself crying into her hair, it smelt
pretty like vanilla. Michiru withdrew and looked at me,
using her thumbs she pushed away my tears.


     "Haruka, why are you crying?" Her voice had a soft lilt, she was
close to tears herself. Michiru put her hands
on my shoulders. "I have never loved, not until I met you,
instantly, I fell in love with you. I had just never thought, you would
love me, that....it would be too much to ask.....Never was the idea
opposed to me." My eyes blinked rapidly.


     What's this? Is it that Michiru loves me as well? Have I confessed
with such grandeur? Impulsively I drew her
close, about to confess again to my happiness, when I felt
her kiss me. The kiss was soft, and quick...so many emotions
I felt just from that gesture. I smoothed her hair back, and kissed her
back, amazingly, I didn't feel at all awkwards.


      "Haruka, you do know, we have a train to catch." She laughed
airily. "Yes, of course." I coloured once more, and took one last sweep
at my tears. Starting the car up again,
I felt good, all anxieties gone, much adrenaline, I felt high like I had
one a race. Of course, I won something much better....The heart of one
Kaiou Michiru.



 Michie.

