Silver Bells The last delicate strains of sweet music fell away. No one stirred. The entire audience was held in fascinate silence. And then they roared, literally 'raising the roof' with their thunderous applause. The tall, shorthaired sandy blond pianist stood up; standing slightly to the side and behind the musical sensationalist that had their audience so emotionally responsive. The blond cast quick glances at the crowd and smiled. More than just a few eyes were wet. Her love had truly presented one of her best performances this evening. And from the wavering smile on her love's radiantly shining face, she knew it too. "Michiru," she whispered. The beautiful aquatic goddess who held dominion over her heart, body, and soul looked over to the sandy blond, her smile penetrating into the other woman's core. She reached her hand back, the smooth, elegant fingers encasing the blonde's, and tugged her forward until the stood, side-by-side, facing the audience together. The sea of humanity before them was one its feet, screaming and shouting when clapping had not produced an equivalent outlet for their appreciation of the performance. The couple on stage bowed once more, and then disappeared behind a velvet curtain. "Wonderful! Simply smashing! Bravo!" a woman with large, horn- rimmed glasses came up to the two. "It was an absolutely beautiful performance! I'm so glad you could be here tonight! Thank you!" The large woman leaned forward and placed kisses on each cheek of the couple. She pulled back, beaming a gigantic smile, and then rushed away. The sandy blond shot a 'look' at her companion, but the woman smiled and squeezed her hand, moving her body closer to that of her love's. The blond 'snuffed' but smiled back, her arm moving around the beautiful woman's shoulders. She leaned closer and whispered in her ear. "What?" the aqua-haired woman asked, pulling away with a playful surprise. "If I told you," the blond answered, her grin increasing, "Then it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it?" "Ruka-chan--" the woman began with a plaintive note in her voice. Huge, adoring, puppy-dog eyes turned her way, but the blond quickly closed her eyes and looked away. "No! It is a surprise! I will not tell! You can not make me!" When she was not looking, the aqua-haired woman leaned into her companion, one hand brushing up from the blonde's waist, over her torso, across her chest, before nestling at her neck. The blonde's eyes flew open with a deep intake of breath. She looked at her aquatic companion who was smiling playfully up at her. "Can't I?" she asked the blond with a knowing smile. The blonde just shook her head, wordless, and reached for her hand. "Monsieur! Mademoiselle! " a man protested, blocking the door as they made to leave. "Surely you can not mean to leave so soon?" "Yes, we do," the blond said calmly, side stepping the annoyance. "But--! But--!" The stuttering man was left behind. "In a hurry?'" the aquatic woman asked, pulling the coat the blond handed her tighter against the snow that was falling outside. The blond slowed her pace and shot a 'wolfish' smile towards her companion. "Of course not," she answered. What would normally be a thirty-minute drive took only fifteen in the sleek silver car the blond was driving. They made not a sound. Enjoying one another's company and the French countryside in silence. A silence that ended with the turning off of the road and onto a graveled path. "Just where are you taking me?" the aqua-haired woman asked sending a curious glance towards her love. The blond just smiled and murmured "You'll see, you'll see." Through the drifting snow, the aqua-haired woman could just barely make out a structure looming ahead of the car. "Is that where you are taking me?" she asked, but her companion just smiled, pulling up in front of-- "That's a barn!" she exclaimed, surprise written on her face. The blond turned the car off and got out, leaving her alone in the car to deal with her astonishment. Of course, she had no intention of being left out. The air was cool and crisp. She followed the blond inside-- To discover four silver-white horses, with silver bridles and silver bells, hooked up to a silver sleigh! "Ruka--" she gasped, staring in awe at the sight before her. The blond turned around and grinned sheepishly. "Merry Christmas, Michiru," she said, a hand behind her neck. "I know--I know you always wanted to go on a sleigh ride and so-- well, since we were here, and well--" The aquatic woman hurled herself into her love's arms. "Thank you!" she whispered, tears in her eyes. "Aishiteru, Haruka-chan." The blond wiped a tear away with the pad of one thumb. "Aishiteru, Michi-chan." She leaned forward a placed a gentle, chaste kiss on her love's lips, and then pulled back. Smiling she motioned for her companion to enter the sleigh. And then, Haruka Tenno proceeded to prove she could drive a sleigh as well as any motor vehicle.