College Life Part 11: Versus the wall by Greenbeans Disclaimers: Mild Cursing + A big Thank You to Tim Nolan, who pointed out my lack of Michiru stories and then recommended some ideas to me. I've been wanting to do some, but I just didn't have any good ideas that revolved around her. Thank you :) If the thought of Haruka and Michiru kissing, hugging, or being playful (NO hentai, baka) makes you uncomfortable, skip this one. 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 :) A little poetry to set the mood ;) How much time? How much shame? How much longer are we to blame the ancestors of those long forgotten? How much blood was spilled? How many people were killed? How many endless tears filled that void of your soul? Am I to blame? Is it my shame? Twas not I who came to steal away your dearest of friends. I regret the cost. I mourn the loss. Is it not time to toss aside those wrongs that burden you? ********** Monday ********** "Again!" A voice thundered. His student took a deep breath to help calm her shaken nerves. It was a new experience for her: to be nervous like this. Of course, no one else had ever raised their voice to her or criticized her work. She closed her eyes and began the exercise again. "Why are your eyes closed? Do you think that will hide your incompetence?" She opened her eyes with a brief flash of anger. Her usual cool reinserted itself. She was better then him and they both knew it. She bowed to him with a slight smile playing her lips. "Good day to you sir," she left the stage. "You've failed this exercise!" He called after her. He sneered to himself. 'So much for the artistic genius Michiru Kaioh.' ***** "You're out early," Haruka stood up from the park bench she had been reading on. She held out a hand to relieve her of her school bag. She knew that she would prefer to carry her violin herself, but she still wanted to help. Michiru slung the bag off her shoulder and handed to the tall woman. Haruka smiled at her as she shouldered the filled bag as though it weighted nothing. She put an arm around her waist. Like that they walked to her car. "So how did the test go?" She smiled at her with a slightly silly grin on her face. In her mind it was a stupid question. Of course she would pass a performance test with flying colors. She was Michiru Kaioh, world famous violinist. Never before have those words stung her pride. Her mind refused to accept that she had failed a test. She had never failed before. It was a very crushing feeling, like she had been fooling herself all these years. 'NO!' She stopped that line of thinking. She was one of the best. Maybe she had gotten cocky and just hadn't prepared well enough. She had never had to go to great lengths to prepare for a test before, but this was the US, not Japan. Things were different here. She just needed to do better next time. "Michiru?" Haruka asked softly with a look of concern. "Sorry, I was just thinking," she smiled at her. "I did fine on the test, just fine." How could she tell her that she failed? She would let her down if she did. Haruka grinned at her, "I know that you did fine. I was just playing with you." She squeezed her tight before opening the car door for her. She slid into the front seat with her violin case across her lap. She would do better next time she promised herself. ********** Tuesday *********** "Dammit!" Haruka stormed out of the room and down the hallway with Beans on her tail. "Haruka, I'm sorry! I don't know how it happened," she called after her. "Haruka, wait up!" She was forced to a jog just to keep up with the tall woman's longer stride. She stopped once they were outside. Beans almost ran into her back. She turned around to face her before yelling. "How in the hell did you -- you gaijin -- score higher on a test in Japanese then me?!" She glowered at those who had stopped to watch her blow her top. "Did you copy off of me?" Beans resisted the urge to point out that she would have gotten the same score if she had done that. Instead she answered. "How could I? I was seated on the other side of the room." Haruka grimaced. "You were, weren't you?" Beans nodded before tugging on her pack a little. "I'm hungry, let's go eat." "I just got a C on a test and all you can think about is food?" Haruka allowed herself to be pulled along to the cafeteria. Beans just nodded and continued the march onward. "Ho there, Ladies!" A man ran across the grass to catch up with them. Beans released her hold on Haruka when James was close to them. He came up to them quickly. "And how are you lovely ladies this fine afternoon?" He asked with a warm smile. "Flatterer," Beans complained good heartily. "There's snow on the ground, it's overcast, and this gaijin scored higher then me," Haruka grumbled. Beans pushed them to keep walking. James continued to speak while they walked. "Well then, I know something that might brighten your day; it brightened mine at least. Mike Stark is going to rejoin the racing circuit." "Dammit," Haruka growled again. Now her day was truly ruined. Not another damn gaijin. She didn't do many races on motorcycle, but the ones she had done, he was always right on her tail. Competitive too. To the point of almost being reckless. "What?" He asked confused. "I'm not a Mike Stark fan," she replied. They entered into the cafeteria with a blast of hot air against their chilled skin. The three of them ate an unappealing lunch. The conversation is what held them to the table, at least two of them. After a half hour of discussing race cars and motorcycles Beans left stating that she was a 'Techie, not a Mechie'. James and Haruka continued to talk until dinnertime. ***** Michiru leaned her chin against the soft cloth that was between her and the wooden instrument. Slowly she drew the bow across the strings to create a low somber tone that matched her mood perfectly. Her instructor hadn't been shy in pointing out that even the 'great' Michiru Kaioh still needed to study for his class. He had humiliated her in front of her classmates. They laughed at her. Not out loud, that would have been rude, but she could see it in their eyes when they glanced her way. Was it her fault that she was better then them? All her life she has had to face the jealous stares of those who longed to have her skill, her genius, her looks, or her wealth. Their longing gazes accused her of having too much; of their somehow being left out when it came to the great cosmic distribution of talents. Almost as though she had something that she shouldn't. Never had the thought of hiding these things crossed her mind. It would be a greater injustice to keep for herself what could bring joy to others through her work. But some didn't see it that way. They thought that she was showing off. She never asked for the attention that was naturally drawn to her. But once all these 'sins' were tossed aside, she still had more to pull out. Haruka had quickly established that she would stand for no solicitations from the males of her school. She didn't mind her taking charge, in fact, she was thrilled at Haruka's bold establishment of their relationship. The other females took that in a bad way. Logic would state that they would be glad that she was not going to be any competition for the guys on campus. Her good looks and sweet temperament could have gotten her any one of them that she wanted. Instead they considered her a freak and doubly cursed the gods they believed in for the injustice of giving such beauty to someone that 'couldn't appreciate it's use'. It irked her that they considered her less feminine just because of Haruka. She had years of practice in being the symbol of feminine beauty. But they thought less of her because of her partner. She took the bow away from the instrument. She had been playing without fully realizing it. It happened from time to time when she was deep in thought. The music would help to convey the emotions that she was trying to puzzle out. She looked around her in the empty auditorium. It was on this stage yesterday that she had failed. She glanced off stage to the wall clock. Haruka should have been here by now. Well.... she didn't mind her being late. It didn't happen that often. Plus she didn't feel like leaving yet. Slowly, the violin returned to it's previous position. The bow was drawn across the strings with the music beginning anew. Last term had held some embarrassing moments that didn't help to endear her to her fellow students. One of her classes was 'Study of Modern Artists'. It went well until it came time to study her. False modesty said that the professor ranked her skills too highly, but she knew that she deserved to be a subject of discussion for the class. The professor knew this too, and proceeded to use her as a model for the students to conform to. It had rankled many of them to no end. There was also that weekend where she preformed a concert for the Governor at his mansion. She hadn't wanted to do it, but she had owed a favor to the person who asked, so she did. That was part of what was making this term so unbearable. It seems as though the world has turned against her. People here didn't appreciate her skill except with envy. Her performance professor, Mr. Phillips, would be the ring leader if there was a conspiracy against her. She was convinced that he took joy in finding errors in her work. No one had ever gone through everything that she did with a fine tooth comb before. It was a good thing because it would help her improve, but he could deliver his suggestions in a kinder way. No one likes to be slammed. She was a patient person, but even she had limits. Yesterday she had come very close to losing her temper. That was something that she didn't want to do under any circumstance. ***** Haruka entered the small auditorium to find herself captivated by the musical spell that the person she had been looking for was weaving. She strode up to the foot of the stage and watched as Michiru was held by the same spell. "That was lovely," she complimented once she had finished playing. Michiru smiled down at her. Haruka lightly jumped up onto the stage. She placed her arms around her before kissing her deeply. Michiru at first tried to move away, but was soon caught in *her* spell. Their moment was shattered when someone cat called them from the other end of the stage. Haruka broke off to growl. "What the hell?" "I thought the auditorium was empty," Michiru looked downstage for the source of the noise. A familiar head popped out of one of the stage trapdoors. "Hi!" Beans exclaimed. "You?! What are you doing here under the stage?" Haruka was annoyed at having her moment with Michiru ruined. She pulled Michiru in close to her in protest, and mild hint, for Beans to find somewhere else to be. Beans put her arms up onto the stage floor to lever herself further up. "It turns out that Michiru's school has decided that computers are a good thing. They struck a deal with the tech school: we get you networked and you perform a concert for us. "I came over here with some other techies after I finished class this afternoon. We're going to be laying cables throughout the school all during the week." "I'm happy for you Beans. Now go back to your cables," Haruka motioned towards Michiru again. 'Let her find the door herself.' "Wait!" She pulled back. Couldn't she take a hint? "Michiru, a bit of advice," Beans grins slightly. "Yes?" She asked politely, ignoring Haruka's behavior. "Don't wear skirts on stage." She turned slightly red. Haruka let go of her. "You're looking up her skirt?!" "Not me! Him!" She pointed to an unseen person under the stage with her. "Hey! I can't see squat. You have your hands over my eyes, and I only suggested it." Beans' head disappeared under the stage. There was some rustling, then John's head popped up. A few seconds later Beans shoved her way up next to him. "There are too many techies around here. How many more of you are under there any ways?" Haruka mumbled. "Just us," John answered. Haruka had a sudden thought. "Beans, where's the off stage trapdoor?" "Over there. Why?" She pointed behind her. "I wanted to test what you said about skirts," she grinned evilly. 'This will get Beans to leave.' Michiru blushed again and nudged her in the side, "Haruka." Beans was relieved that at least Michiru has some decency. Then Michiru finished. "Why go under the stage? I'd rather have you close to me." Haruka snickered and pulled her close to her again. "I think we should leaving," Beans dropped back underneath. John followed her down, pulling the door closed behind him. "You are absolutely the most shameless, outrageous, single minded person I have ever known," Michiru teased Haruka after Beans disappeared. The techie had changed several shades of red within the last 5 minutes. Their relationship didn't bother her like it did most people, but even she had limits to how much she could take before she was 'grossed out.' "So? Would you prefer me timid, quiet, and submissive to the whims of others? Besides you're all those things just as much as I am. You just play sweet and innocent," she grinned at her. Michiru thought about it for a moment. "Possibly, but submissive might be an interesting change for you," she said with a gleam in her eye. Haruka chuckled. "We'll try it sometime," she promised. ********** Wednesday ********** Michiru sat in the school library staring at the text in front of her. She was hoping to glean some kernel of knowledge from it, but by now she was just hoping to get though it without falling asleep. It was a chapter on "Basic violin techniques." Mr. Phillips had reamed her again on how poor her technique was. He admitted that she had plenty of raw skill, but it was unrefined. He assigned her this chapter to study for a retest that would be held on Friday. She was glad for the opportunity, but she knew every thing in this book already. She knew this when she was a small child. It was elementary, but she did want the good grade, so she studied it any ways. She sighed slightly. She could almost feel her brain becoming numb from the boredom. "Oh! Does Miss Kaioh have to join the rest of us and study?" A sweetly sarcastic voice said from behind her. Michiru dropped her head slightly and sighed again. She really didn't need this. "Lo and behold, she does!" Another answered in a tone as sweet as honey. "Poor Miss Kaioh finally figured out that she doesn't know everything," she first answered. "I never said that I know everything," she said without turning from her studies. "Did Miss Kaioh just honor us by speaking?" "You've got that wrong. She's not MISS, remember?" "That's right! She's engaged that the handsome woman that terrorized the men at the beginning of the year. What was her name? Ten O?" "We're not engaged," Michiru answered softly. She wasn't going to get mad. But the desire to was sorely tempting her. She shouldn't even be justifying their barbs with responses, she scolded herself. "You're not?! Then what's that ring you're wearing?" "You forget that Mrs. Ten O isn't from around here. It may be some backwards practice from her homeland." Michiru gripped the edge of her book and squeezed it. Their words were hitting too close to home. She gathered her things together and got up the leave. "Where are you going, Mrs. Ten O? Home to your loving husband?" They snickered. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. 'They are nothing more than schoolyard bullies. Ignore them and go on your way.' "Oh, she closes her eyes to think too! Does she had the answers to the tests written on the inside of her eyelids?" She opened her eyes slowly to look at them. "That was a brainless remark," she said softly. "If you're going to bully, at least do it with some class." She brushed past them. Fortunately they didn't see the tears forming at the corners of her eyes. ********** Thursday (early morning) ********** "Michiru, come to bed," Haruka stood in the doorway of the work room. It was 1am. She was dressed in shorts and a tank top while Michiru was still in her clothes from the day. "I will in a little, love. I just want to go though this one more time," she didn't look up from her studies to speak to her. Haruka was mildly hurt by this, but it did strengthen her resolve. She walked up to Michiru and picked up the text she had been reading. "We have classes in the morning," she reminded gently to forestall her protest. Out of curiosity she flipped the pages to the beginning of the chapter. "Basic violin techniques? Why are you even reading this, not to mention losing sleep over it?" "Haruka, I need to study --" Michiru began. "Not this," she tossed the text onto the desk. "You knew that before you knew your kanji! What's gotten into you? You've never studied this hard in your life. Michiru?" She knelt down onto the floor to take her hand. She looked up at her. "Haruka," she put her arms around her neck and cried. She held her close, supporting her. Deep inside a fire burned to find whatever made her partner cry. No one or thing would get away with that! "I failed Haruka," she whispered. "Failed? What do you mean?" She hugged her tight to give her confidence to speak. "I failed my performance test Monday," she admitted. She tried to pull her head away from Haruka's shoulder, but the other woman gently pushed it down. She held her close to her. "I'm sorry." "You don't need to apologize. Tell me what happened," Haruka's mellow voice was more soothing to her then her actual words. She rocked them back and forth slowly while she gathered her thoughts. "I really don't know. I think that I just hadn't prepared well enough. It should have been just another routine exercise. He didn't like my posture and he didn't like how I closed my eyes to focus," her voice broke then. Haruka didn't pass judgement on her as she deserved. Instead she kissed her on the forehead, thinking about what she had said. "It is possible that he is jealous of your success and is trying to make your life miserable because of it?" she smiled gently. "I'm too biased to help you objectively, but didn't the school give you an advisor to go to if you needed help?" Michiru smiled sheepishly for not thinking of that herself. "That's my girl," Haruka grinned proudly. She pulled her up from the chair and lead her to the bedroom. ***** The man across from her nodded his head once before speaking. "These are some rather broad accusations. Do you have any proof?" "I'm not accusing anyone of anything," Michiru responded. "Let me get this straight. You aren't doing well in a class that you think you should be doing well in. Plus some other students are picking on you. "I'm not sure how it is in Japan, but in this country, you need to learn how to stand up for yourself. I can't be there to hold your hand." Michiru's cheeks burned at the implied insult. Her grievances were not petty and shouldn't be so easily dismissed. "Thank you," she bowed to him and left. "What did he have to say?" Haruka asked her once she rejoined her outside the office. "He was no help at all. He thinks that I'm getting worked up over nothing," they left the office to go to Haruka's car. Haruka tensed up in anger. "That's non-sense!" "Hush, Haruka, we'll figure something out," Michiru put her arm through hers' and continued to walk down the path. ***** At the School of Arts, the techies were slaving away to accomplish the task of networking the school before the weekend hit. Beans plugged the cable into the port. She switched the machine on and waited for the results. What she saw did not please her. "John," she called to the person near her. "I'm not picking up anything from the concert hall. How about you?" "Not a thing," he yelled back. "Damn. It's too late to do anything about it today. Tomorrow, go back to the hall and recheck the cable there, take some people with you. I'll check the cable in this building." He nodded. "Will do, Chief," he saluted playfully. "Cut that out. I'm not in charge here," she protested the usual barb about her unwanted leadership position. "Yes you are. If you weren't, no one would listen to you," he put away a coil of cable for tomorrow. "You listen because you know that I'd have a fit if you didn't," Beans smiled slightly. "That too," he admitted. "And those aren't pretty." "Get on with ya," she pushed him out the door and locked it behind her. Maybe she was bossy and liked to be in charge, but things got done so much faster when she was there to run the show. ********** Friday (around 3:30pm) ********** "Play it again Ms. Kaioh," Mr. Phillips instructed. His tone was low, the tone that she had come to associate with his disapproval. Michiru placed her chin against her violin and played the exercise once more. It was a simple piece that required no more skill than that possessed by a first year student. He shook his head. "No, no, it's still not right," he looked at her. "Are you playing bad on purpose? Are you trying to be modest in your skill? You are supposed to be a world famous violinist, but you dishonor the art!" He stood up from the seat that he had occupied to listen to her. "Sir, what am I doing wrong? What can I do to improve?" Michiru put aside her violin and feelings of rejection to try to get some information out of him. "What *aren't* you doing wrong? You act like a violinist, but it's just an act. You're posture isn't correct, the tones you draw aren't pure, it's all a very low effort in my opinion," he pushed his glasses further up his nose. "How can you be so sure?" She challenged. "I've been playing for years and have never encountered such problems," she pointed out frustrated. He stopped as he was walking out to answer her. "That's one of the unfortunate attitudes that I have encountered all too often in students that have had private tutors. They seem to think that they know everything there is to know about the art. "Well, I'll tell you right now, that you do not know every thing that is to be known, Ms. Kaioh. In fact, you have quite a ways to go," he left her alone in the auditorium. Not only had she failed once, she had failed twice in one week. This just didn't seem to be possible. She stood there silently for several minutes, refusing to think about what had just happened. Slowly, she began to play a slow piece that somehow seemed rather fitting to her mood. This was part of her dream and he was stepping all over it. She wouldn't allow him to destroy all that she had worked so hard for. She would pass his course, and do it with a high grade too. Even if it killed her. ***** "Oh, Haruka, I can't believe that it's happened twice in one week," Michiru hugged the other woman tight, drawing support from her. "This is ridiculous. I think we should go have a talk with the highest ear we can bend," Haruka pulled her up from the couch in one of the lounges that they were seated in. "This can't keep going on she agreed." They left the lounge, ready to raise hell, when it found them. A security officer stopped them in their tracks. "Michiru Kaioh?" He asked. "Yes?" He handed over a slip of paper. "I'm afraid that you and your companion are going to have to leave the campus ground," he stood tall when confronted with Haruka's glare. "What for?!" Haruka demanded. "Oh no!" Michiru placed a hand to her mouth. She handed the paper over with a haunted look to her. Haruka read it aloud. Michiru Kaioh: You have been placed on academic suspension pending a committee inquiry regarding your alleged solicitation of sexual favor to Greg Phillips. Your inquiry had been scheduled for 6pm this Wednesday. Until that time, you are banned from all college related facilities and properties." "What is this bullshit?!" She demanded of the officer. "I'm sorry, Miss, I really don't know. I've just been told to make sure that you are escorted off campus," he bowed his head slightly. "Please don't make this difficult." "I'll show you difficult --" Michiru cut off Haruka's words. "We will leave peacefully, but what about my classes?" She asked. "Get notes from someone. You won't be allowed to attend classes until this matter is cleared up. Now, if you will please lead the way to your vehicle." ***** Beans opened the door to her room to find a very pissed Haruka and downcast Michiru in the hallway. She invited them in. Michiru took a seat on her bed while Haruka leaned up against the door. She didn't have to ask what was going on because Haruka started into the story without prompting. Beans' jaw just about hit her desk. "You've got to be joking me!" "See me laughing?" Haruka asked sarcastically. Michiru didn't bother to scold her for her rude comment. "Beans, you're from this country, what do you think we should do?" She took a deep breath before answering. "I'd go to this committee meeting ready for a fight. From the sounds of it, things are going to come down to your word against his. You've got to come up with some solid proof that you didn't do it." Haruka looked at her. "No shit, Beans. What we need is a plan." "Fine, I'll dig around this weekend and see what I can find out about -- what was his name?" "Greg Phillips," Michiru said it bitterly. "Right. Maybe he has a history of failing a lot of students or something like that. I'll also ask the geeks that have been around your school this week to see if they noticed anything weird." "That's a good start," Haruka brushed her hair back. "Thank you Beans," Michiru nodded to her. "Is there anything that we can do to help?" "Yes. Haruka, take Michiru out to dinner, make it a nice relaxing evening with just the two of you. Play some music together or something." Michiru started a little at the suggestion of playing. "Michiru, you can't let that bastard take away the joy that you and Haruka share in your playing. It's a beautiful thing that you have. Ignore him," Beans smiled kindly. "Good advice all around Mame-chan," Haruka patted her on the head. "Bah! -chan, indeed." Haruka grinned while Michiru chuckled softly. ********** Wednesday ********** Haruka entered with Michiru into the council room at the appointed time. Michiru projected an attitude of complete calm, but Haruka could tell that she was nervous. Little signs that she had learned to read as easily as a printed page told her that. They walked up together to the front of the room where long tables facing the councilors were set. Michiru sat down where she was directed to. It appeared that just about everyone else was here already. The councilors were already seated, Phillips was at the table besides hers. The room was beginning to fill with others. "I'm sorry, but you cannot sit with Ms. Kaioh," one of the councilors, the head one she thought, said. "I'm her partner," Haruka protested. He shook his head. "Please be seated in the gallery with everyone else. She grumbled some and squeezed Michiru's hand before leaving her side. She smiled reassuringly at her before she left. "Andy, what are you doing here?" Haruka whispered hoarsely, sitting down besides him. "Beans sent me along to keep an eye on you until she could make it," he was dressed in a suit and tie, as was she. "What! That little --" "Haruka, shut up!" He hissed. She was so stunned at his daring that she was speechless. "Beans has an ace up her sleeve if things don't play our way. Interfere and it may not work. Understand?" "You expect me to just sit here and not help Michiru!?" She demanded angrily. "That or leave," he replied calmly. She was about to tell him to go to hell when the hearing was brought to order by the man that had told her to sit in the gallery. "Ladies and gentlemen, this past week, several ugly accusations have come to the attention of this committee. Tonight, we hope to find grounds for either laying these charges to rest or to investigate them further. "Michiru Kaioh, you have been accused of soliciting sexual favors to Mr. Greg Phillips in return for passing his class. Which you are currently failing. You need not enter a plea, we just want to ask questions. "Keep in mind, Ms. Kaioh, that in America you are innocent until proven guilty." "Fucking hypocrite," Haruka hissed under her breath. Andy placed a strong hand on her arm. "We aren't a bunch of damn heathens." "I know, I know," he assured. Michiru sat before a panel of 3 committee members. The head of the committee sat in the center and was the one that did most of the speaking. He continue to speak now. "Mr. Phillips, will you please come forward and tell us what happened?" Phillips calmly came forward and sat in the seat before the committee. He had a gleam in his eye that Haruka would have loved to challenge. "Certainly. Ms. Kaioh had not been doing well in my class. Last Monday we had a performance exam that she had failed. Against my established policy, I agreed to let her retest Friday at 3:30. When she had failed this retest, she then offered to perform certain 'acts' in exchange for passing her in the class." Michiru's eyes went wide. "That's a load of shit," Haruka growled. Andy glared at her. "Is that all Mr. Phillips?" "I think the story speaks for itself," he nodded solemnly. "It's really a shame, I believe that she has potential, but things like this just can't be tolerated." "You're dismissed Mr. Phillips," he retook his seat at the long table. He looked around him, the picture of complete honesty and confidence. "Ms. Kaioh, please come forward," Michiru stood up and straightened out the skirt that she wore. Gracefully she filled the seat the Phillips had recently vacated. "Will you please tell us your side of the story?" He didn't seem to be too interested in what she had to say. He had a look of boredom to him. "Well, sir, I did fail the first test. I did fail the retest, but I NEVER offered to sleep with him. I would NEVER offer to do such a thing with *any* man," her voice was calm, but it held a note of steal to it. "Were there any witnesses to this event? What evidence do you have to give?" He asked her. "I don't think there were. I wouldn't sleep with him because of my partner," she smiled out at Haruka. "I'm completely loyal to her." "Her?" His expression totally changed at that. "Yes, Haruka," her smile widened even more. "Well, you are dismissed Ms. Kaioh. Is Haruka present?" She stood up and stalked to the front of the room. She did glare at Phillips as she passed by him. "I'm Haruka Ten'ou," she introduced while sitting down in the chair. "What is your relationship to Ms. Kaioh?" The head of the council asked. "I'm her partner," she pronounced proudly. "Partner? In what, tennis? If I many ask a more simple question, what gender are you?" Phillips asked from his table. The questions drew snickers. "I'm a woman!" Haruka yelled angrily. "Are you? We certainly can't ask you to drop your pants and prove to us that you are." There were laughs around the room. "You asshole!" She stood up outraged. "You are dismissed," the head of the council said. "What! You can't let this bastard get away with --" Haruka protested. "You are dismissed!" He met her angry stare. She clinched and unclenched her fists for several tense moments before returning to her seat. "You see, Ms. Kaioh gets one of the other Japs to claim to be a lesbian with her to cover her guilt," Phillips announced to the room. "That's enough from you as well," the strain the head of the committee was under was beginning to show. "How dare you insult my partner," Haruka's anger seethed. Andy pulled her down into her seat. "Anyone else?" "Sir," Beans called from the back of the room, a coil of cable over one shoulder. "Haruka, no matter what Beans says, just keep quiet," Andy whispered in her ear. He sighed. "Beans, now isn't the time. Run your cable tomorrow." "No, sir, I have evidence to offer." He gave her a pained look. "Of course you do. Well then, get up here." Beans dropped her cable. She walked up the main aisle pausing at Michiru long enough to squeeze her hand before sitting down. "Sir, I object to this woman's testimony!" Phillips stood up from his seat. "And how's that? You don't even know what she has to say. You've had your turn, now it's Ms. Kaioh's. Say your peace, Beans." "Firstly, everything that Ms. Ten'ou has said is true. I've come to know Ms. Kaioh during her time here and she's quite friendly. Right, darlin'?" Michiru almost choked on the water she was sipping on. "What the hell is she *doing*?! Michiru is *mine*!" Andy pinched her hard on the leg before her outburst could be heard. "Ahem," the head of the council also blushed in the cheek. "You know this from experience, I assume." "Oh yes, she's been quite willing to teach me the ways of the east," she continued. Michiru's eyes bulged. "I'm gonna kill her!" Andy stomped on Haruka's foot. "And you're next," she finished glaring at him. "Um, yes, well, anything else besides confirming her preferences?" "Yes, as you know, I'm pretty good when it comes to the computer." "An understatement," he nodded for her to continue. "I did some research into Mr. Phillips' past to see what previous employers thought of him. The results were rather interesting," she pulled a manila envelope out of her back pack. "Let's see. 21 years ago, he was released from a fast food burger place for using racial slurs against a customer. Now, that was 20 years ago. But it has happened two other times since then. All 3 were against persons of Asian decent," she handed the printouts over. "I got curious as to what could motivate his dislike. It turns out that his father was a POW that was killed while in Japanese custody," she handed more papers out of her back pack over for examination. "Murdered! My father was murdered by those damn Japs!" He stood up to yell. "Sit down!" The head of the council thundered. "Lastly, I can provide an alibi for Ms. Kaioh. >From 3pm to 5pm a team of techies were underneath that stage hooking up cables. They had heard violin music while they worked so John poked his head up through the trap door to see Michiru playing." He held up a hand to stop her. "Is this 'John' here?" "Yes sir," John called from the back of the room. "Ms. Kaioh is the woman I saw playing that afternoon." He nodded and called the hearing to a recess. Haruka took the opportunity to look behind her. The entire back half of the room was filled with geeks. Every one of them had put forth their best effort to try to look nice with varying results. "I don't believe it," she whispered in awe. "We're your friends, Haruka. You both are one of us, whether you like it or not." He grinned some. "If he wasn't going to buy Beans story, we were going to testify about her lack of interest in the male population." "I didn't know she felt that way," Haruka admitted. Before Haruka could form any odd ideas he said easily, "She doesn't. Trust me on that," he smiled wickedly. "Then why did she say that she did?" He laughed at her. "Beans never actually said she was a lesbian, just that Michiru was friendly. Even I could have said that. They didn't listen to you because you are Japanese. She had anticipated that reaction. She simply re-emphasized your point." Beans strolled up to them then. "Hi y'all! You're doing a great job of keepin' her quiet, darlin'," Beans greeted. He chuckled. "It's been a struggle, kitten." "I'm not gonna kill you anymore," Haruka huffed. "But if you ever hold Michiru's hand again without my permission I'll make sure you're using the 'peck and find' method of typing for the rest of your life." She laughed Haruka's threat off, though she knew it to be valid. "I don't want her. Now scoot over so that I can sit." Andy put his chin on his hand and said thoughtfully, "Racism is an unbreakable, unmovable wall that blocks our perception." "Poetic," Haruka complimented softly. "Hummm..." He nodded at the councilors returning to the room. "After reviewing these documents and the testimony given, we have decided not to carry this outrage any further. Mr. Phillips, you are on leave effective immediately. There is enough evidence here to justify a committee meeting regarding your possible racial bias. "Ms. Kaioh, we sincerely apologize for any inconveniences that you may have experienced due to this incident. You are reinstated from academic suspension and your grade in Mr. Phillips class will be reviewed independently. "This meeting is adjourned." Phillips cursed while stalking out of the room. All the geeks in the back let out a cheer and applauded the outcome. Michiru ran to Haruka. They embraced each other and kissed. The obvious disregard for the rest of the world started the geeks cheering again. Andy and Beans smiled at each other for a job well done. "Beans," the head of the committee called out. He fought his way through the crowd to her. "A word with you." "Yes?" She asked politely. He coughed into his fist. "Well, um, while your decisions in life are none of my business, I was wondering if you had told your parents about --" he let the sentence trail off. She shook her head and smiled. "About Andy?" He placed an arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him. "No, but I'm sure it'll come up sometime," he kissed her on the cheek. "You lied?" He had a very disapproving look on his face. "No, you presumed. I just said Michiru was friendly. She's been a very good friend to the both of us." Andy nodded his agreement. "She's the one that got us together." "Hum, I guess you're technically right you evil little child. Say 'hi' to your father for me," he turned away. "Yes, Uncle," she replied obediently. "Uncle?" Haruka raised an eyebrow. "Yep, let's go get some dinner," Beans hooked her arm through Andy's. "Geeks feel like chippin' together for pizza?" She called to everyone. A cheer went up as people filed to their cars. Haruka and Michiru were slow to follow them out. They would meet them at the pizza place. "Did they all come to support me?" She asked. The thought of over a dozen computer geeks from another school taking an interest in her life was overwhelming. "They came to support you, back up Beans, and hold me down according to Andy," she held onto her hand lightly. "Those two do make a good match. You've worked another miracle, love." "No, we just helped something along a little," she smiled. "Maybe," Haruka looked off into the distance. "I'm just glad that this non-sense is over with. It was distracting both of us." "I can see it distracting me, but how you?" She asked teasingly. She already knew the answer. "When you're distracted, so am I," Haruka answered as expected. Beans pulled up next to them in her car. "C'mon you guys, or do you need to do poor on a test to be motivated to eat?" "You scamp!" Haruka managed to kick the bumper of her car as she sped off laughing. ********** End part 11 ********** I'd like to point out (for my own good conscience) that the last half of the story was done for dramatics rather than realism. Much like 'Matlock' may take place in a courtroom, but that isn't necessarily what goes on there. The two big point are: No matter how hard someone tried, this whole thing wouldn't have unfolded nearly this quickly. Also, any inquiry held would have been a closed session that only involved the parties directly involved in the incident. Most advisors aren't as big of jerks as Michiru's was. Every advisor that I have had has always been kind and tried to help me with my problems. I'd like to acknowledge some of my favorite fanfic authors whom I drew inspiration 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/ Dedicated in the memory of Misty the Rat who passed away May 15, 1997. We will all miss your peeing on us....