Chapter Text
“Ms. Kaiou. Can I help you?” She asked, then winced. The practiced voice had failed her. Her voice had been deeper, but still unmistakably her. Michiru pushed the door farther open, scanning the terrible mustard colored room.
“There’s just something about you. Who are you really?” Michiru demanded. Haruka blanched. Michiru leaned closer and inspected Haruka’s earrings, the same ones she’d forgotten to take out when she woke up.
“You have the same earrings. And the makeup in the bathroom. Haruka never wears makeup, and it certainly isn’t the right shade for Setsuna, or even Seiya or Usagi. You’ve been playing me. You’ve been one person all along. Haven’t you, Haruka?” Michiru said accusatorily. Haruka stared. Of course. Of course a bright young woman like Michiru would notice the makeup in the bathroom. She was an idiot.
“Uhhhhh.” Haruka said, dumbfounded.
“So I was right!” Michiru exclaimed. She grinned.
“Aren’t you- mad?” Haruka asked, raising her arms defensively.
“Mad?” Michiru laughed. Haruka stared.
“I’m not mad, I was hoping I was right.” Michiru continued, “When I met you at the opera house, I noticed your buttons were on the left side of your jacket, despite it being a more unisex cut. That told me you’d bought it at a store catering to women. After that I was just hoping that Haruka and Haruto were just strikingly unoriginal names for the same person.” Haruka felt a surge of pride. Michiru wasn’t mad at her, she was just happy she’d been right.
Then Michiru slapped her. Hard. Haruka stumbled back, hand going to her stinging cheek.
“What the-” She exclaimed, watching Michiru’s face turn from devious to innocent in seconds. Then Michiru stepped closer, reaching for her face with gentle hands. Haruka felt like her face had caught fire. Michiru’s dazzling blue eyes were so close, studying her.
“That was for lying to me.” She said, mock-glowering up at Haruka.
“The only lie I told was my name.” Haruka insisted. Michiru stood on tiptoes and kissed her on the cheek.
“That’s for… honestly I’m not sure. I just wanted to.” Michiru whispered. Haruka’s brain stuttered for a second as she tried to register what just happened. She leaned forward and buried her face in Michiru’s shoulder, desperately trying to hide her flaming blush.
“Why are you like this, Michiru?” Haruka mumbled. Michiru laughed, wrapping her arms around Haruka.
“I just am, Haruka.” She replied.
Someone cleared their throat behind them. Haruka jumped. She looked up to see Seiya standing in the doorway, still in her pajamas.
“Go get ‘em, tiger.” She said, the effect of her sarcasm ruined when she yawned halfway through the sentence. Michiru laughed as she watched Haruka’s face turn beet red. Haruka gave Seiya the middle finger and Seiya gave her two in return as she walked down the hall. Michiru grabbed Haruka’s hand.
“Haruka, that’s quite childish of you. Come on, we’re getting all of this off your face.” She ordered. Haruka dutifully let herself be dragged into the bathroom, where she let Michiru break down the wall between them, with makeup wipes instead of hammers.
“So you knew, from the first time you saw me without the disguise?” Haruka asked, looking up at Michiru from where she sat on the edge of the bathtub. Michiru nodded,
“Well I’d figured out you were a woman, then I noticed the way you sat was the same, not to mention you looked almost the same. I played along to let you think you were doing a good job.” Haruka raised an eyebrow.
“Paying that much attention to me huh?” She asked, placing her hands on Michiru’s hips. Michiru scrubbed the last of the makeup from Haruka’s face.
“What can I say, I know a pretty woman when I see one.” Michiru replied.
“You know I kidnapped you, right?” Haruka asked.
“Oh yes. I’m sure that will get problematic.” Michiru said casually.
“Maybe not.” Haruka said, remembering something she’d read yesterday. The text from Ami Mizuno.
“What do you mean?” Michiru wondered.
“One of Setsuna’s spies planted a story. One that you’d run away with a mysterious lover.” Haruka explained. Michiru smiled.
“In the end, another lie that was actually true.”
“So we’re lovers now?” Haruka said, raising an eyebrow flirtatiously.
“That depends, are you going to keep lying to me?” Michiru teased.
“It was only my name! You said it yourself, it wasn't very original.” Haruka pouted. Michiru leaned closer until their foreheads touched.
“I know how you could make it up to me…” She whispered. Haruka’s breath caught, and she tentatively leaned in. Their lips brushed gently and Haruka closed her eyes. The kiss was short and sweet, and said all the words neither could say. All too soon their lips parted. Haruka stared at Michiru.
“You know you just kissed your kidnapper, right?” She asked. Michiru smiled.
“You know you just kissed your girlfriend, right?” She replied.
“So it’s a yes?” Haruka asked, eyes lighting up.
“Yes you idiot.” Michiru said, taking her hand and helping her up. Haruka pumped her fist victoriously, a favorite of hers from her racing days.
“You better not kidnap pretty ladies anymore though, understand?” Michiru teased. Haruka nodded, leaning her head against Michiru’s and smiling. They walked into the kitchen, not a care in the world. Seiya looked up from her coffee.
“Fucking finally!” She shouted, startling Setsuna, who nearly dropped her book. Usagi echoed Seiya’s sentiment, the profanity sounding wrong in her happy voice. Haruka groaned and hid her face in her hands. Michiru simply laughed and pulled her closer.
“Now when are you two gonna f-” Seiya was cut off when Setsuna’s book hit her squarely in the back of the head.