College Life Part 9: Interlude by Greenbeans Disclaimers: I call this episode 'Interlude' because I need some foundation laid for the next part of the story, but I don't want to do a story about the Christmas break at this time. So, read this to get the ground work, skip it if you want, but I will be refering to it for the next term. 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 :) ********** Friday ********** I walked down the halls of the student union with two pieces of paper in my hands. One was my schedule for the winter term. The other was my report card for the fall term. Overall, I hadn't done bad on either sheet. I almost had a heart attack when I saw the 'A' for Calculus. Math was my worse subject, but with Haruka's help, I had actually gotten a good mark. I think I'll frame my report card and hang it on the wall. I didn't get many 'A's in math. Everything else was good. My lowest mark was a single 'C' in Western literature. I shook my head. Why they make geeks take classes like that never made sense to me. I know that the idea is to make us more 'rounded,' academically but still... My schedule for the winter term wasn't bad either. I had the next Calculus class in the series to take. Hum, wonder if Haruka is in the same section as I am? She'd also have to take the class for her major. I had decided to brush up on my Japanese some. Not that Haruka and Michiru don't keep me on my toes, but it was a good idea to continue studying if I didn't get to use it everyday. More C++ and Electronics for me this term, also. Can never get enough of those compilers can we? I'll have to remember to pick up some more solder. There are going to be 4 sections of Computers 101 being taught this term. I had drawn sections 2 and 3 again. That wasn't a bad thing since I was used to the time slot. The process would began again very soon. I'd better make the most of my two weeks off. Tomorrow I was leaving for my parents house to stay there during the break. I looked forward to it because there was a little project I wanted to work on while everyone was away. ***** Michiru packed the final items into their bags for their flight to Tokyo tomorrow. Both of them wanted to get home as soon as they could to be with everyone again. Haruka especially missed Hotaru-chan, though she wouldn't admit her deep feelings regarding their daughter. Honestly, she felt the same way. A hug from the little girl would be quite welcome and long overdue. She went into the living room and sat onto the couch. It was a cool day out with the sun having a difficult time breaking free of it's cloudy prison. Haruka was at the school picking up her report card and schedule for the next term. Both had been ready for a week now, but she just hadn't gotten around to fighting the lines to get them. Michiru had received her grades and classes last week. She posted a perfect grade card as she had expected. Her classes really weren't anything special for the winter term, being nothing more than a continuation of the classes she had fall term. "Michiru, I'm home," Haruka called from the kitchen. "Baka *," she called back teasingly, "I can hear you stomping in from the garage. Have you seen your grades yet?" * Quick Translation: Baka -- silly (idiot, stupid, absurd) "I'm not *that* loud. I think it's the mirror telling you things again. No, I haven't opened the envelope yet," she sat down onto the couch next to her. She put her arm across the back behind her while handing her the two envelopes. She opened the one with the grades in it first. "These are very good marks, Haruka. I'm proud of you!" She exclaimed. She'd gotten 'A's in both Calculus and Computers 101. The only 'B' she got was in mechanical drawing. "I would have gotten an 'A' if I had your skill," she said in her defense. "Perhaps, but you do well on your own as it is." Haruka's painting skills had improven dramatically since she had first asked her to teach her to paint. She loved sharing her world of artistic expression with the tall girl. It helped her to express herself all the better in her own works. She cut open the other envelope with a well trimmed finger nail. It was Haruka's schedule for the next term. "More Calculus as expected. I wonder if Beans is in this class with you?" Haruka shrugged. "Japanese? Why are you taking that?" "Er, well, if I had read the fine print of the papers for the exchange program, I would have seen the clause about having to 'help instruct about your homeland.' I guess the school figures that being in this class will fulfill the obligation." "Hum, Setsuna helped to get our exchanges. I wonder if she knew about this?" Michiru asked thoughfully. "I don't doubt it. She never misses a little detail," Haruka looked over her schedule. "More mechanical drafting using AutoCad. Physics. Forms and Values of the Arts." "What? Let me see that," Michiru looked at the page again. She was taking an art appreciation class? "Haruka, you're not going to have an easy time next term. Some of these are hard classes, especially the Japanese." Haruka smiled down at her. "Actually, that should be my easiest considering that I'm a native speaker," she grinned. "I'm not so sure. It was always your toughest subject in high school. Don't brush it aside just because it's taught by an American." "Don't worry, Michiru! I'll be fine," she pulled her into her side. She felt warmed by it. Having Haruka near her always made her feel better. ***** "We didn't end up in the same Calculus section, but that doesn't mean we can't work together," Beans said. They had come up to her room to say good-bye before they parted ways for the Christmas break. "You just want me to carry you for another term," Haruka teased. Beans affected innocence. "We both got 'A's. Who's to say which partner was the one responsible for it?" "You've never gotten an 'A' in a math class in your life! You told me that much at the beginning of the fall term," Haruka pointed out. "True, but I could have reformed," she winked at Michiru who chuckled. "Right, and I can fly!" "If I tossed you out the window you could. See? Anything is possible." "I don't believe it," Haruka crossed her arms over her chest. "But, look here, we've got Japanese together," she noted. "Why are you taking a class in your native language?" "Because I have to," Haruka brushed back a lock of hair. Beans snickered. "With as often as you brush your hair back, it would be easier to just get it cut a few inches shorter." "I'll cut my hair shorter when you hack off that rope that's tailing behind you," she grinned wickedly. "Snip, snip." "Doesn't bother me," Beans waved it off with a flick of her wrist. "I've been wanting to cut it short for a while." "NEITHER of you are getting your hair cut," Michiru interjected. "It's taken you how many years to get it that long, Beans? Haruka, stop challenging her!" The instigators snickered at Michiru's outburst. They both perversely enjoyed getting reprimanded by their keeper. "What are you going to do with 'it' over the break?" Haruka nodded in the direction of the fish tank. The waters bubbled at the underlying insult in her tone. "Well, Andy lives here in town, so I asked him to come up here every few days and drop one of the cubes o' food into the tank," she smiled slightly and turned a bit red. "See, Haruka, I told you that things would go along just fine between them once they were properly introduced," Michiru said to her partner, disregarding Beans' flush expression. "Don't think that I've missed all the times he's come into your lab section askin' for help," Haruka laughed as Beans turned even redder. "Face it, Beans, he likes you and deep down in that cold heart of yours, you like him too," she continued to tease. "Leave me alone. I don't tease you and Michiru," she answered testily. "What's there to tease us about. *We* have both acknowledged where we are in our relationship and are quite comfortable with that," she had put an arm around Michiru's shoulders while speaking. Michiru smiled lovingly up to her. "Ah, be nice, Haruka. They're still learning where the other stands and that takes time. Remember?" She jabbed her in the ribs slightly. It was Haruka's turn to change shades. When the realization that she loved Michiru hit her, it was like being ran over by a freight train. It had taken several days for her to come to grips with the idea. Then had taken her even longer to build up the courage to speak about how she felt with the turquoise haired girl. Of course, other things had gotten in the way of her confession, such as learning that they were Senshi. When she learned that Michiru's feelings for her were mutual it was like receiving the greatest gift in the world. She *had* received the greatest gift. There was nothing that she valued above her. Yes, it had taken them some time to adjust to this new stage of their friendship. But they had known so much about the other already that the transition was easily made. "Well, I'll give you a grace period since you two aren't as close as Michiru and I," she said with the attitude of generosity personified. "You're so gracious," she replied in kind. "But I don't want any children out of you yet. That sort of nonsense can wait," Michiru jabbed her *hard* in the ribs for that comment. She let out a gasp of air while still managing to look normal. Beans turned a fiery red. She recovered quickly from her embarrassment. "Before I forget!" Beans opened up her closet and pulled out a five gallon bucket. "This is for you two for Christmas," she gave it to Haruka. It wasn't heavy at all. "What is it?" Haruka peered through the semi-transparent lid. "A family tradition. Go home and open it tonight. Keep a blade handy. Well, I guess that wouldn't be a problem," she blushed slightly remembering that Haruka had a sword up her sleeve, in her pocket, or *somewhere*. "Thank you," Michiru smiled. "I'm afraid that you'll have to wait until we get back from Japan for your gift." Beans waved her off. "You don't need to do anything. Be good you two!" She called down the hall as they left with the bucket. Beans laughed to herself. The Bucket o' Goodies *was* a tradition in the family. It was also one of the cruelest gifts that you could give someone. She had received plenty herself and was now going to share the fun. It had taken her three days to prepare it. Her smile broadened at the thought of the 'fun' to come. ***** "Do you want to open it?" Haruka offered the bucket to her. They were seated together on the floor of the living room. They had already decided what they were going to get Beans for Christmas: a silk kimono. Michiru had gotten Beans' measurements without her knowing when they were getting ready for the Starlight Ball. They had already called the place that was going to make it and put in the order. It should be ready by the time they're ready to return to the US. "You go ahead and open it," she leaned back comforably against the couch. She pulled on the lid, but it was on tight. She pulled harder without it giving. "Time to get serious," she pulled out the Space Sword and was using it as a lever. The lid finally came off with a pop. "Shimatta, I'm going to need a bag," the bucket was filled with staticy packing peanuts. Some had managed to spill onto the carpet despite her efforts to keep them contained. Michiru returned with a paper bag a moment later. She put the peanuts into it without too many of them getting away. Removing the peanuts revealed two 'balls' about the size of volleyballs. Haruka handed the 'ball' labled 'Michiru' to her and took up the one with her name on it for herself. The 'ball' appeared to be nothing more that an oversized twisted ball of yarn. "What are we supposed to do with this?" Haruka asked sarcastically. "Unwind it I'd guess," Michiru said with a touch of scorn in her tone. "It's a game, Haruka. Look at the lid. It was glued on." Haruka picked up the lid. Indeed, it had been glued on. "I don't like these type of games," she grumbled. "So you aren't going to unwrap your gift?" Michiru looked up from the ball she was unwinding. She had worked her way into a layer of streamers like those used at parties. Haruka grumbled a little more, got comfortable sitting cross legged, then found the end of the yarn. She didn't have the patience for these types of things. Michiru had the yarn nicely rolled up beside her while her yarn was all jumbled up in her lap. "Oh, this must have taken her forever," Michiru commented when she hit a layer of duct tape and the ball wasn't much smaller than when she had began. "It's going to take *us* forever," she had just reached the streamers herself. "May I borrow your sword?" Michiru asked. She hadn't put it away after she pryed the lid off. She handed the blade over to her. "Don't dull it," she said with a grin. "Like I could," she used it to cut some of the tape. Underneath was another layer of yarn. "We could make a sweater with all this!" She exclaimed. "Maybe that's the gift, 'Here's a sweater, but there's a little assembly required,'" Haruka hit the duct tape herself and need the sword back. Michiru chuckled at her sarcasm. 45 minutes and several layers of yarn, streamers, and duct tape later, Michiru had a ball that was the size of a baseball. Her's had been different from Michiru's once she got past the first layers. So far she had a good sized pile of little green army men beside her while Michiru didn't. She wasn't sure how she felt by that. Michiru laughed every time another little man popped out of the wrap. It was probably Beans being smart again. The unwrapping got easier from this point on. Michiru hit the center with only a little more effort. "What's this?" A little object surrounded by a paper was at the center of the ball. Michiru examined the rubbery ball carefully. It had a miniature violin at the center. She unfolded the note. It had been written carefully in their native language. Michiru, It was at the Ball that I finally began to put the pieces of the puzzle together about who you are: a world famous violinist. To me, you are just Michiru Kaioh: friend and mediator between Haruka and myself. I figured that you could use a little fun. You can now bounce your dream off the walls when you get fustrated. (Don't you just love polymers?) Beans She squeezed the ball in her fist to test how plyable it was. She then threw it against the wall with Haruka catching it. "Hum, well made too," she complimented before tossing it back. Haruka focused back onto her ball. It too had a note in it. The center held a toy F-1 racer that had been painted in the scheme of her racer last year. Haruka, Bet Michiru got to her gift before you got to yours. [Eyebrow twitch] I remembered where I had heard the name 'Ten'ou Haruka' before. My dad is a major racing fan and had told me about you. Of course, he thinks that you are a guy, but so does half the world. It's not as good as the full sized model, but it should provide you with some mild amusement. Beans She held the car up to the light to better examine how it was painted. "She did a fine job. Look at the sponsor's logos," she handed the toy car over to Michiru. "Amazing, her talents are wasted on computers. Maybe I should show her how to paint," Michiru handed the car back. Haruka ignored the barb by agreeing with her. "She might enjoy that." She pulled herself up close to Michiru and placed her arm around her comfortably. Michiru leaned her head against her shoulder. They sat together like that long into the night. ********** End part 9 ********** Next Episode: "The truth in deed" Everyone has returned from break, but not without problems. A hacker is toying with the records of Haruka and Michiru with Ami and Setsuna powerless to stop him. Will they be able to find the perpetrator before their lives are spilled out on the 'net for everyone to read? A big *THANK YOU* to everyone who has written :) You're encouragement helps, especially those whom have 'motivated' me to continue this series. (Yes, I *do* like my kneecaps ^_^;) I'd like to acknowledge some of my favorite fanfic authors whom I drew insperation 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: * Ryo-kun: For encouraging me whenever I felt like someone had hit me upside the head with a shovel :)