"So you work with Michiru?" Seiya Kou asked charmingly. Ami sighed softly. There were several things that Ami had rapidly learned about her profession, not too long after she graduated university. The first was that it wasn't understood by most laymen, second that words like 'marine biologist' and 'climate change' quickly made people's eyes glaze over and third simply that her work probably wouldn't make good party conversation. Therefore whenever anyone asked about her job she sketched in an outline and then quickly changed the subject. Noting that she had already achieved 'eye-glaze' Ami asked the tall woman, "And do you actually cross-dress in your performances?" Seiya smiled back as she took a drink, her long black ponytail flowing down her back. "Yes and no," she answered, "we all wear men's suits, but we don't conceal our gender, either." They stood close but not uncomfortably so, the other woman respecting Ami's space. "It must be interesting," Ami murmured, her own blue hair falling into her eyes. Her black jeans hugged her slim body, the simple white T-shirt she had picked out clinging as she sweated a bit. Feeling a gaze resting on her Ami looked up, blinking as she met Michiru's searching gaze, then the other woman looked away. "Ah, yes," Seiya saw the interaction, eyes twinkling with amusement, "you have to watch out for Michiru, her cool surface can be deceptive." "Oh?" Ami asked almost unwillingly. Seiya chuckled softly at that, knowing that Ami wanted to know more no matter how casual she seemed. "You know we dated?" she asked and when Ami nodded she continued, "I may have a reputation as a player but it was she who went after me." Ami felt her gaze drawn back to Michiru, noticing her talking to a tall orange haired woman, then Michiru shifted so that she could see Ami again, her lips drawing up in a beautiful smile as they saw each other again. Forcing herself to look at Seiya she conceded, "I can imagine." Seiya looked at he and suddenly Ami felt oddly frightened by the piercing quality of the woman's eyes, wondering what secrets she could see. With a faint smile Seiya sipped at her drink then murmured, "Don't be too surprised if she or Haruka do approach you tonight." Ami was swallowing as Seiya said that and nearly choked on her drink. "What?" she managed, wheezing slightly. "Sorry," Seiya apologized, reaching out to firmly thump the other woman's back. Once she was sure Ami was recovered she said wryly, "I thought you already knew, but Michiru and Haruka have a open relationship." 'Open...?' Ami thought in surprise as Seiya excused herself, stalking through the crowd. Feeling more than a little confused she retreated to the mini-bar, pouring herself another drink and being careful to go easy on the alcohol. "So," the voice purred "you're the famous Ami Mizuno." Ami turned around to see the tall, orange haired woman standing nearby, casually wearing a dress that probably would have cost Ami a month's salary, at least. "I'm not sure what you mean," Ami said mildly, "miss...?" Gazing at her with a frankly predatory look in her eyes she purred, "Arisugawa Juri." She studied Ami for a moment she continued, "After hearing Michiru talk about you, I thought I should see you for myself." Ami felt a flash of warmth knowing that Michiru talked about her, but she stayed cool. "That's nice," she said with a slight smile. Juri chuckled softly, the two soon falling into quiet conversation. Thankfully Juri soon made it clear her interest was based more on Ami's resemblance to a old friend of Juri's, and once Ami clarified that she wasn't available Juri backed off gracefully. As the evening passed Ami was introduced around, talking to each of the couples and guests, snacking and occasionally dancing when asked. Once midnight came they raised their glasses in a toast to celebrate the new year even as they saw the celebrations in Tokyo on TV. And all the time Ami would feel that gaze resting on her, or look up and meet Michiru's smoky eyes. Each time Ami wondered what was going through her friend Michiru's mind, what she was thinking about when she considered Ami so intently. 'I should get out of here before I embarrass myself,' Ami thought, carefully making her way to the door as the others began to quietly take their leave. Part of her wanted to linger, to take Michiru aside and find out if what Seiya had said was true.. but she was scared, too. "Going so soon?" Haruka's voice startled Ami from her guilty thoughts. Running a hand through her blonde hair she said apologetically, "I need to go run Arisugawa home, would you mind keeping Michiru company until I get back?" "I...." Ami croaked out, then she cleared her throat. 'What is she thinking?' Ami wondered weakly, 'Doesn't she see what's going on here?' Taking a steadying breath she managed to say, "Of course, if you want me to." "Thanks," Haruka squeezed Ami's shoulder gently, "it'll mean a lot to Michiru." Ami's mind was oddly blank as she watched Haruka and Juri leave, making her and Michiru the last two people in the room. Michiru smiled at her, gently taking Ami's hand and drawing her over to the couch as she sighed, "I hope Seiya and Juri weren't too aggressive." Ami followed, her skin tingling a little in Michiru's gentle but firm grip. "Seiya was a prefect gentleman, more or less," she answered her as she sat down, "and Juri backed off once I explained I wasn't available." There was an odd look on Michiru's face when she heard that, almost pain. "Are you seeing someone?" she asked softly, sitting close to Ami despite the large size of the couch. Ami felt herself falling into Michiru's eyes, but forced herself to focus. "I'm not," Ami smiled wryly, "but Juri didn't need to know that." The scent of Michiru's perfume teased her nose, and sitting so close she could feel the warmth radiating off of her. "I'm glad," Michiru murmured, reaching out to rest a hand on Ami's. "I need to go," Ami made herself rise, her legs made shaky by a sudden surge of desire. If she stayed there on the couch much longer she knew she would do something that she or Michiru might regret... "I'll call a taxi back to the lab and get my car." "No," Michiru rose to fiercely take Ami's hand, looking into her eyes with an expression of mixed fondness and annoyance. "For someone as smart as you are," she said gently, "you can be remarkably stupid." "Michiru..." Ami didn't want to say it, knowing that the hope blossoming in her heart was probably just a case of self delusion. Then swiftly Michiru closed the distance, pressing her lips hungrily to Ami's as she wrapped her arms around her. Ami moaned silently as Michiru circled her body with her surprisingly strong arms, the kiss feverish as they were pulled together tightly. "What about Haruka...?" Ami managed breathlessly a few moments later, Michiru's arms still wrapped around her neck. Michiru's gaze was kind, "She knows, Ami... why do you think she's taking so long just driving Juri home?" The next kiss obliterated the other questions from Ami's mind, a gentle tongue stroking against her own, fingers sliding down her back and caressing her skin. Gently she was pulled down to the couch, passionate kisses shifting to searching touches, and then a swift disrobing. Throughout the long night they delighted in each other's bodies, exhausting each other with sweet pleasures and wild imaginations. The next morning Ami awoke in a strange bed, gazing for long minutes at Michiru's soundly sleeping form. Sounds off in the distance drew her from the bed and dressing quickly in her shirt and underwear Ami went to take a look. Haruka Tenoh had coffee on in the kitchen, her clothes a bit rumpled and short blonde hair standing up a bit. "Good morning," she smiled pleasantly as she put another cup of coffee down on the table, "I was going to bring you breakfast in bed but you two were sleeping so soundly I didn't want to disturb you." "I'm so sorry," Ami said softly as she sat, keeping her eyes down at her coffee, "I never expected this to happen..." Haruka chuckled softly, sitting across from Ami at the little table. "It's all right," she said firmly, "I'm sure Michiru told you that I know, right?" "Well, yes," Ami admitted, "but.. you love her." "Yes I do," Haruka said patiently, "and I know she loves me." A sudden smile, "And I also know that she loves you, and that doesn't detract from her loving me, too." "I never thought about it that way," Ami admitted softly. "Not that I didn't get jealous originally," Haruka conceded with a shrug, "but after Michiru introduced you to me, I couldn't help liking you." "Morning," Michiru said to them sleepily as she walked in the kitchen, wearing a old robe around her beautiful body. Ami felt that familiar flash of desire again, unabated even by their lustful night, and noted Haruka had a similar look on her face. They exchanged a sympathetic glance even as she though, 'I wonder if I could get used to...?' "Did you ask Ami about our offer yet?" Michiru asked as she poured a cup of coffee. "I was just about to," Haruka grinned impishly. "Eh?" Ami blinked. "I remember you mentioning you were looking for a place since you left Makoto," Michiru took a drink of her coffee with a happy sigh then continued, "and that you were living in a uncomfortable little apartment." "Well, yes," Ami confirmed, wondering where this was going. Haruka was clearly enjoying her confusion, and her smile was nearly wicked. "Well," she smoothly took over, "we just happen to have a comfortably sized basement, one that could be easily converted into a suite." "You're asking me to move in with you?" Ami squeaked. Michiru set her cup down, took Haruka's hand and then Ami's. "Please," she said, squeezing both of them gently. "This is a very bad idea," Ami said weakly, her pulse pounding in her ears, "not to mention being totally insane." "Is that a yes or a no?" Haruka smiled then purred seductively, "I'm hoping for a yes, if only to... get to know you better." "Don't scare her off," Michiru slapped Haruka's arm. 'Very, very bad idea,' Ami thought, imagining all the things that could go wrong. Looking up she saw the love in Michiru's eyes along with compassion and caring in Haruka's, and suddenly her mind was made up for her. "Yes," Ami said with a firm nod. The End Notes: This started out as a request from a reader for a Ami/Michiru fic, and the idea sort of bubbled in the back of my brain for awhile until I got this. I couldn't quite see Ami breaking up a couple, even by accident, so I wrote the ending this way...
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