Chapter Eight: Mixed Signals

It was nightfall as Haruka stood outside on her balcony. Her eyes closed as she stood with her feet spaced shoulder length apart with her hands behind her back. The aura around her was pensive. Frustration etched itself upon her face as she meditated.

She drew in a deep breath and shuddered. The current of air toyed with her, whipping her hair around, tugging at her clothing. A large gust threatened to knock her off balance, fortunately, her stance was steadfast. The wind whispered to her, bringing her small pieces of conversations from within the castle. A lot of it was jiberish from the servants, jokes and ramblings from the young pages, and talks of duals from the squires.

The blonde-haired woman frowned as the airstreams began to bring her fractions of whispered exchange. She could not make out the words, but the furtive energy it brought with it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Haruka concentrated harder. The force of the wind gathering around her a blur of visible engery.

That was the image that struck Michiru the moment she fully entered Haruka's bed chambers. The blonde haired woman took no notice of her, so she took a seat. Hopping onto Haruka's bed.

"There will be those who follow, and those who do not will parish,"

The wind forced itself from her grasp and found a new exciting source of entertainment. A mixture of smells, steady beathing, the licking of dry lips, the feeling of nervous anticipation filled her senses. The wind carried to her the vibrations of a shudder that erupted from the woman Haruka was now aware of being in her rooms.

Michiru couldn't pull her eyes away as the tips of Haruka's golden wings darkened. Out of the time Michiru had been on Uranus, she'd never witnessed anyone's wings change color. She saw Haruka turn to face her. The expression the tall woman wore lit a flame within her. Though Michiru was sure Haruka didn't visually recognize her. Deep seeded arousal attempted to surface but she pushed it down. Now didn't not seem like the time to allow thoughts of Haruka's head between her legs manifest.

A new smell assaulted her senses. There was a little voice in the back of Haruka's head that coaxed her to go to the girl. To ravage her. To make her scream her name to the heavens out of pure ecstasy. Haruka flared her chakra forcing the wind to settle down and disappate.

"What happened to your clothing?" Michiru asked. The fog rose from Haruka's eyes and for the first time that evening, Haruka saw Michiru.

Clad in her training breeches and tunic. Her hair was pulled back away from her face. There was a bruise on her left cheek just below her ear that had fanned out nearly covering a quarter of her face. Even that didn't take away from the neptunian princess's beauty. Haruka was drawn into her thought's just before Michiru could finish her question.

Michiru blushed. Haruka's naked body wasn't something she hadn't seen before but it wasn't something she wouldn't mind seeing everyday. The wind blew on the blocony picking up Haruka locks and sending a shiver though her body. The Sky King shook her head to clear her thoughts and looked down at her naked form. There was bit and pieces of what used to be her clothing scattered about the balcony.

She came inside. Ignoring Michiru who continued to sit on her bed. The blonde entered the closet and dug through it obtaining another training outfit. She slipped into her clothing quickly and joined Michiru.

"Come on," Haruka told her. "I have something to give you."

Michiru looked up hopefully. She no longer wished for food when Haruka had surprises but she'd secretly been hopping she was doing well enough to learn a few armed combat tricks. Like a puppy she followed Haruka. She could barely contain her anticipation and it made Haruka smile.

"Tomorrow is the festival right?" Michiru asked. "Alexander invited me to attend it with him."

"Really?" Haruka asked. "He failed to mention it to me."

"He didn't ask until last night," Michiru replied. "I thought maybe it took him a while to consult you about it."

"What matter of concern is it to me whom he considers?"

"Well with you wanting to initially escort me and your extremely clear message at your birthday party a week past a fornight ago I just thought you'd be a bit…" Michiru trailed off. She didn't really know where she was expecting to go.

Haruka stopped mid stride and turned to the aqua marine haired girl. Her normally cerulean eyes silver. The younger woman took a step back, her body slipping into a defensive stance. The sky king looked at her with eye's that looked beyond her outter shell and bore into her soul. Michiru felt as if she was on display and didn't know how to shield herself from this form of assult.

"A bit what?" Haruka asked, her voice the same dangerously low pitch it had been the night they danced. She and Alex had danced. Her doing it for fun. Him for the reaction it that would manifest from his twin.

"Opposed?" Michiru questioned.

"You mean possesive," Haruka translated. "Say what you mean."

"I want you to stop giving me mixed signals," Michiru told her. "Either we're friends or you need to make your intentions clear to me and to everyone else."

Haruka shuddered, blinking her eye's closed, she shook her head and when she opened them again, they were cerulean. The blonde sighed. She didn't really know how to express what she wanted between them.

"You have already made your decision quite clear to me, Highness." Haruka said. She turned and continued walking. Whereever they were going was obviously more important than the conversation they were having.

Michiru decided it probably wasn't a good moment to remain silent. Haruka had made it seem like she was playing both sides of the field, which of course wasn't true. Alexander was becoming a good friend to her and as to where Haruka was concerned; the feelings she was developing for the female were way past anything she knew she'd ever feel for anyone who wasn't the young sky king.

"You're right," Michiru said stopping. "I have made my decision clear which is why I declined your brothers invitation. I'll take a jealous Sky King over one who has misinterpreted a situation any day."

"There was an inivitation you did except?" Haruka asked.

"Yes," Michiru answered. "The Plutonian princess requested that she be my escort in your place, explaining better than yourself the situation between you and Aries."

"And you thought I would mind this less than him?"

"No," Michiru asked. "But I'd rather spend my night looking at someone who doesn't remained me of the person I'm falling in…forget it."

The distance between them closed and before Michiru could take in what was going on. She was in the blondes arms. The strong body of the sky king suddenly pressed against her made her confused. The sea king looked up at Haruka. Taking in the shape of her face, the expression set upon it. Her eyes were as they always were. A jumbled mass of emotions flashed over them before they went blank.

Haruka lifted her hand to feel the fragile skin of the woman in her arms. She trailed over the bruised skin, losing herself in it's softness. Michiru pressed her face against the hand stroking her more firmly. Cerulean eyes searched Jade for any signs of objection, seeing none Haruka soothed her jumbled nerves. Slowly she leaned in, giving Michiru enough time to pull away if that was her choice.

The aqua marine haired female did not take the chance she was given, and was rewarded by soft lips coming in contact with her own. The kiss was light and hesistant at first. Michiru returned the kiss. She parted her lips and Haruka follwed suit but the kiss didn't go any deeper than that.

"Goddess," Haruka whispered as she lightly nipped Michiru's bottom lip.

Michiru smiled into the kiss and then pulled away. The older girl had the ability to take her breath away and that's exactly what her little scoundrel had done. Haruka hadn't released her, which in her belief was fine, but there was some stipulations to this embrace.

"Kiss me again or let me go," Michiru told her firmly.

Haruka rose an eyebrow at her. The sky king summoned the wind to her. The balcony door at the end of the hall opened and the wind entered sealing the hallways and acting as a barrier for any who sought to pass. She would have no one interrupting her moment with Michiru.

Michiru pulled Haruka's mouth down to her own. This kiss was much more aggressive. Taking Haruka's bottom lip between her teeth and tugging slightly. She drew the lower lip into her mouth sucking on it. The feeling of Haruka's hot mouth on hers was intoxicating.

Haruka's world began to spin. She pushed Michiru backward, the small woman's back hitting the wall stabled them. Haruka's tongue invaded her mouth. Exploring the warm carvern trying to find out it's secrets. Michiru halted Haruka's incursion. Her tongue battling the blonde's making it work for the knowledge it would seek to gain.

"We must not effortlessly bestow ourselves to what some would identify as temptation," Haruka told her breaking the kiss they were sharing.

"It won't be effortlessly," Michiru promised her, gasping for air. Haruka's head dipped down and lapped at the skin in between the nook of Michiru's neck and her shoulder. The younger woman caught Haruka gently by her chin and brought the other girls lips back up to her own for a short kiss.

"I still have something I want to give you," Haruka said.

"Perhaps we should get going then?" Michiru offered.

The wind left them and they continued their stroll, eventually they ended up where Michiru had been hoping they would. The Armory. Haruka opened the doors and the lights automatically turned on.

Michiru couldn't take her eye's off the amazing weaponry. All of it was shiny and well maintained. There in the back were a massive collection of wooden mock weapons. Swords, staffs, small hand weapons like daggers and a claw like objects Michiru didn't really know what it was.

"You've done some type of weapons training haven't you?" Haruka asked. It seemed completely asinine to her that a princess Michiru's age would have never had any type of training prior.

"I got pretty proficient with the staff," Michiru answered. "I'm likely to cut my own head off with a sword though."

"Find a sword and a staff with the weight you feel comfortable with and then get something a little heavier," Haruka instructed. "I'll know if you cheat."

"Yeah yeah," Michiru responded. "I'll be punished for not cheating anyway."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Haruka said.

Michiru could nearly hear the laughter in her voice. She picked through a few of the objects until she found a pair that she liked.

"Well that's it then," Haruka told her. "There will be no training tomorrow. It'll give you some time to nurse your bruises."

"You know you've got a good method going here," Michiru said. "No one will want a woman covered from head to toe with discoloration."

"Maybe on your planet," Haruka said. "but here that's the type of woman you want to make your wife."

Michiru didn't respond. She stood there looking at her forearms. Her sleeves were rolled up and the black-and-blue skin that stared back at her didn't seem like it should be very appealing. Haruka's hand appeared in her vision. The shorter woman looked up and Haruka nodded her head toward the door.

The sun poured though Haruka's windows. She hadn't pulled her curtains closed the night prior and apparently the sun took that as an invitation to enter her quarters. She grumbled.

She felt a presence outside her chambers doors and she knew it wasn't Michiru. The younger woman was probably in a deep coma. Which was how Haruka aspired to be at this moment.

The familiar presence entered and Naru entered her line of vision. She was looking over the room making sure it was orderly. Haruka sometimes kept her room like that of a teenaged boy. Clothes strewn every which way messy desk, improperply essembled bedding.

"To what do I own the pleasure?" Haruka asked. She sat up and the blankets slid down exposing her bare torso.

"I thought we talked about sleeping like that," Naru said instead of answering her question. The older woman disappeared into Haruka's bathroom to make sure that was also being kept up.

"What can I say?" Haruka answered. "I don't like elastic on my ass while I'm sleeping."

"Watch your language," Naru told her. "How are things progessing with the girl?"

"Well enough I suppose," Haruka said. "She's picking up the lessons fairly quickly."

"I don't mean the fighting,"

"Well you're going to have to be specific,"

"Don't tell me you're completely unaffected," Naru said. "I may have to start believing you prefer males."

Haruka felt the blush that crept up upon her neck and coated her ears. There was nothing wrong with boys. In fact she happened to like them more than a lot of the females she knew, but none of them had ever caught her attention past how fast they could fly or how far they could toss one another.

"Please," Haruka said. "I can be a little naïve when it comes to women and their intentions sometimes but I am not confused."

"Enlighten me," Naru said sitting on the edge of her charges bed.

"We've kissed," Haruka said with a shrug. The action sent the blanket down further. Naru rolled her eyes and got up to retrieve a shirt for the young sky king. "Nothing more."

"Well that must have been exciting," Naru said. "I remember back when you were both small. She used to kiss you all the time and you'd fuss about it but never told her she couldn't do it again."

Naru handed the shirt she'd gotten from the closet and handed it to Haruka. The blonde slipped it on and forced herself out of the bed. Her wings were stiff and she flexed them on at a time. Each time she would turn, enabling the wing to exit the balcony doors a few inches.

"I won't deny that I enjoy it," Haruka said. She ran her fingers through her hair, messing it up more than it already was.

"You're much to old to be experiencing this for the first time," Naru informed her. "By your age most Uranians have chosen those they will spend the rest of their lives with."

"Yes well, I've heard our mating statistics have declined over the last fourteen years or so," Haruka said. "You know, ever since we halted communication with her people."

"Yes well quite unfortunate circumstances. I will of course my own opinion, just that, my own."

"You don't approve of this?" Haruka asked.

"Would that influence your decision?" Naru responded. The brunette looked down and studied her finger nails. The look on her face was a pensive one that Haruka had observed on her face only a number of times over her life span.

Haruka weighed her responses carefully. The blonde liked to keep Naru thinking that her opinion matter more than it actually did. It kept the older woman out of her hair for the most part but truth was, she didn't really take any of Naru's advice serious.

"Perhaps," She responded finally. "But I'm am hesitant to take counsel from one who is herself unmated."

"Then perhaps your father would be a better option," the guardian suggested.

"I'd rather not," Haruka said. "He likes to get all nostalgic about Amelia,"

"Is that how you're referring to the woman who gave you life now a day?"

"I've called her by her name for years," Haruka said. "I really don't think she's in a position to mind."

"You should be ashamed of yourself such blatant disrespect," Naru scowled.

"By the gods woman, it's not like she can hear me."

Naru got up in a flustered huff just as Haruka had expected. Her aunt wasn't very keen on talking about her deceased sister. Haruka felt no shame when she used to as a tool to make the nosey woman mind her own business.

"So what did you come here for initially?" Haruka asked.

"His Majesty requests your presence," She replied. The taller woman moved toward the door. She looked over her shoulder making eye contact with the girl. "He doesn't appear to be in high spirits."

She departed after that leaving Haruka to wonder what in the world her father could be unhappy with her about. She dressed quickly going through her morning routine. She greeted Darkmoon, the young Pegasus had slept out on the balcony. She followed after her master when the agile woman took flight.

Depending on her fathers mood she didn't want to keep him waiting. The energy of the wind made her feel edgy. She tucked her wings and went into a dive her fathers throne room wasn't far. She spread her wings as it came in sight. The balcony doors were closed but that didn't stop her from landing.

When she approached the doors they were already unlocked. She tugs them open and popped her head in. her father sat behind his desk scribbling his signature on something Haruka really didn't care to know what it was.

"Father…" Haruka said gently, just in case he hadn't heard her open the door.

"Come in," He told her.

He finished whatever it was he was doing as Haruka came inside. She pulled the doors closed behind her and took a seat in the chair opposite his desk. The older man pulled off his glasses and looked at her with stern eyes.

"You've been neglecting your meditation again," He stated. "I've warned you of the dangers."

"You warn me of the harm that could come of it," Haruka said. "and yet that harm has never come."

"You're getting older now. You're becoming a powerful woman. You're abilities will progress faster than you anticipate and without proper preparation it could sneak up on you. You'll no longer have control of yourself." King Jonathan informed her. "What of your problems? How are you to solve them without a moment to think? Alexander manages to…"

"Other than training Alexander has no other obligations," Haruka interrupted. She hated being compared to her brother. They were completely different people with completely different schedules. "He is not the one who must know his people. He is not the one who lives with the court breathing down his back telling him who he must become and how he must behave, and most importantly he is not the one who will be king."

"You will watch your tone," He father scolded her. "as a lady, mind your manners."

"I have no desire to act as a lady and you will not be the one to force me to act as such," Haruka said. If her father had expected to get anything productive from this conversation by bringing Alexander into then he was dead wrong and she wanted him to remember this.

The king sighed and sat back in his chair. He took in the angry demeanor of his only daughter. Cerulean eyes ablaze. Her body was ridged with fury. She'd always been quick to anger.

"You're shaking," he said calmly. "It's not a good sign nor does it help your side of the argument."

"Was there anything else?" She asked. She just wanted to get out of the same room with him.

"I know I'm not exactly the most strict parent," Jonathan said. "but I do have certain expectations I require you to live up to. Training, teaching, meditation, being able to be diplomatic, taking a firm grasp of your temper. In order to be a successful leader these are qualities you must have."

"I know," she responded calming down. "Despite what people might think, I can't do everything."

The blonde stood up and walked over to the balcony doors. Looking out her kingdom lay before her. It was still early, most of Uranus was probably asleep. The wind crashed upon the closed glass doors.

"Do you require assistance? I'm sure Naru could take over seeing to Michiru's training regimen if it is becoming too much of a burden." The king offered. "That is the wonderful thing about the delegation process."

"Had you offered me this a few months ago I would have jumped on it," Haruka said. "but I'll have to decline. Naru teaching style is not what Michiru requires."

"We're discussing what your require," Jonathan said. "You were doing very well before you took on this responsibility I wouldn't want to see your development slow."

"May I go now?" Haruka asked. "I think I hear those responsibilities you speak of calling."

"How about you and I have a duel?" The king asked. "It's been a while."

"Now?"

"Why not?"

Haruka shrugged her shoulders and opened the balcony doors allowing the wind to enter and toy with her hair. She felt it tug on her clothing, whisking over her body seemingly trying to make sure she was alright.

She left the room and took flight. Her father was quick on her heels. His sword was drawn and before he could swing. Haruka drew in her wings and dived. A huge gust of wind threw the king spiraling backward.

The young blonde drew her sword and took flight high into the sky's of the heaven. She'd entertain her old man.