Chapter 2: What Happened on March 5th?
Setsuna walked over to the table with a small tray that was holding Michiru's favorite white tea set. She poured some tea into each of their cups and placed one cup before Haruka. Haruka folded her hands around the cup staring at her reflection coming from the tea. Setsuna looked behind her hearing the sound of laughter coming from Michiru's bedroom.
"Sounds like they are having a fun time." Setsuna broke the silence taking her seat across from Haruka. "You should eat, we made plenty of pancakes." She gestured to Haruka pushing the plate of pancakes towards her.
Haruka leaned back in her seat, her eyes never leaving the tea cup. "I don't want anything to eat, all I want to know what it going on and why Michi is acting this way." She crossed her arms over her chest.
Setsuna continued to watch Haruka who never looked up at her once this entire morning. "Haruka...what happened last night? Hotaru and I, well we heard but not by choice. You both were extremely loud but everything was unclear to what you both were saying."
"I'm sorry for last night it was out of hand. I regret everything about yesterday." She sat up looking up at Setsuna. "I deserve this punishment but she doesn't deserve what happened. March 5th…."
~FLASH BACK~
"Welcome Home, Haruka!" Michiru cheered in excitement wrapping her arms around Haruka for a hug. "How was your day?"
Haruka chuckled, kissing the top of Michiru's head. "It's better now that I'm here with you even if it's for a few minutes."
Michiru took a step back away from Haruka. She tilted her head slightly to the side raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean a few minutes?"
"Well the guys just invited me to a new race camp a few towns over. They opened a new track there and we are the first to be able to test it out over the weekend." Haruka smiled, walking past Michiru towards their bedroom. She went to the closet grabbing the duffle bag off her shelf.
Michiru followed behind her, taking a seat on the bed. "Are you really leaving for the entire weekend? She watched Haruka move about the closet grabbing different clothes throwing it into the duffle bag. "Can't you go with the guys another weekend? I really wanted to spend this weekend together."
"Michi, you don't understand this is the first time I will be able to test a new track anywhere. Many racers don't get this opportunity and I really want to do this." Haruka responded making her way to the bathroom to grab some supplies. "There's really nothing special about this weekend. We can spend next weekend together."
Michiru sat in silent for a moment thinking, ~Did she just say…~. She sighed deeply, "Am I able to go with you?" She shifted more into the bed to get a better view of Haruka.
"Umm...it's mostly a racer thing, you know?" She opened the cabinets to grab her toiletry bag putting her toothbrush and toothpaste inside of it. "I mean some of the guys are bringing their girls too but it would be kind of awkward if you go. You know cause we are not like other couples. I'll take you next time if you want to go."
"Oh? So the other guys are taking girls but you do not want to take me? I see…...you just want to be able to flirt with all those other girls without me around." She responded in a sulky voice. "Haruka, I understand this might be a once in a lifetime opportunity but I rather have you here with me or I will go with you."
Haruka walked back into the closet placing the toiletry bag into the duffle bag. "Michiru, I don't want you to go. Just let me have some fun without you, alright? Be happy for me that I'm getting to do something fun! I already hear that tone in your voice and I advise you to change it."
"You don't want me to go? I am happy for you Haruka but I don't understand how you can be so selfish!" Michiru's voice grew slightly angrier but remained calm. "We haven't spent any weekends together for the past two months. This weekend is very special to me and I really want to be with you but you don't want me around!"
Haruka was now enraged by Michiru's tone and assumptions. "Oh hush up will you! I just want a weekend to myself! Like I said this weekend is not that important and we can spend another weekend together." She grabbed her duffle bag throwing it over her shoulder. "I'm leaving now before I say something I will regret later. Goodnight Michiru, I will see you on Sunday and hopefully in a better mood." She walked past Michiru and out towards the kitchen.
"Oh no you don't! Come Back here...Haruka! You can't just leave! You just can't!" Michiru hollered catching up to Haruka who was already opening the front door.
"Michiru don't be such a bother. I will be back at the end of the weekend." Haruka walked out into the cool winter air. She walked quickly but carefully to her car. The cement still had some black ice since it rained early that morning. She opened the driver's door, tossing her bag into the passenger seat and started the car. She frowned waving goodbye to Michiru who was standing in the doorway.
Michiru hurried back to the living room and grabbed a jacket from the coat closet. Quickly she ran back to see Haruka was already pulling out of the driveway. Without hesitation she sprinted towards the car in the next second everything happened in a flash. She slipped on the black ice, falling back she bumped the side of her head against a large rock.
Noticing what happened Haruka stopped and plunged out of the car. "MICHIRU! MICHIRU!" She screeched running to Michiru's side. She knelt down holding Michiru's lifeless body in her hands. She examined her closely noticing her aqua hair was staining itself red. "Michiru!" Haruka dashed back into their bedroom bathroom. "Dammit Michiru!" She turned the water on to the bath. As soon as the bath was full, she stripped Michiru and gently place her in the bath. "Come on, Michiru. Wake up." She spoke softly to not wake anyone up as she washed the blood out of Michiru's hair. "I'm sorry, Michiru even though this was your fault I am still sorry."
In that moment Michiru took a soft breath of life but didn't open her eyes. "Thank the lord!" Haruka cheered hearing Michiru's breath. She finished cleaning Michiru off and dressed her. "You are going to give me a heart attack one day." She gently place Michiru on her side of the bed, tucking her under the comforters. She sat at the edge of the bed, gently brushing Michiru's hair away from her face. "Sleep well, Michiru. I will see you on Sunday." She kissed Michiru's forehead before leaving her.
~ FLASHBACK ENDED~
"...and that's what happened. Since I was late to meet up with the guys I drove the rest of the night over to the camp. I didn't even realize what Michiru was talking about this weekend until you texted me about the Anniversary dinner." Haruka finished telling Setsuna the story. She paused for a moment in silence. "OH SHIT! It was my fault!" Her sudden outburst scared Setsuna out of her track of thought.
Setsuna looked at Haruka worried. "It was no one's fault. Michiru slipping was an accident but we really need to get her to the hospital to make sure is not seriously hurt more than she is.
"Didn't you hear what I just said? It was my fault! If I wasn't so selfish she would have never went outside and slip on the ice!" Haruka leaned back in her seat. "She deserves to forget who I am and what I did but you're right she needs to get checked." Haruka facepalmed herself. "I can't believe I was so stupid and didn't take her myself but when I gave her the bath I thought she was fine. Shit! I thought she was fine and needed sleep, what kind of idiot? UGH! I'm so stupid!"
Setsuna walked to Haruka's side, kneeling down before her. "Haruka, it was not your fault. You just forgot something important but that happens but I'm going to have to take Michiru to the hospital today but on the other hand you need to leave. You can stay at my old apartment for now but you do need to go."
Haruka looked at Setsuna appalled. "You want me to leave? I can't leave. I have to take care of her! I need to know if she will be alright!"
Setsuna sighed, "I know you want to be here but she doesn't want you here and I don't want to see her upset anymore today. I will call you and keep you updated and possibly you can come back later tonight or tomorrow." She smiled at Haruka who looked back at her frustrated. "If all goes well we can go out for dinner together."
"I do not want to leave. I refuse to leave." Haruka responded displeased.
Hotaru and Michiru came out of the room making their way to the kitchen with the empty plates. "Look Setsuna-Mama and Haruka-Papa I finished all my food." Hotaru sang in a delightful tone.
Michiru noticed Haruka was still here. She smiled at Hotaru taking her plate over to the sink, mumbling under her breath. Turning on the water to the sink to wash the dishes she was interrupted by Haruka who was already at her side. "Here, let me help you with that." She smiled grabbing the sponge.
"No thank you, you have already done enough today." Michiru responded politely taking the sponge away from Haruka. "Um…..I don't mean to sound impolite but do you mind taking a few steps back? You are way too close to me and it is making me uncomfortable."
Setsuna saw the hurt look Haruka had in her eyes as she stepped away from Michiru. Gently she pulled Haruka away to the living room. "I think it will be better if you leave now before she says anything else. I'm going to call the hospital as soon as you leave. Ami should be working today and can see Michiru as soon as she can. I'll call you later." She whispered directing Haruka towards the door. "I'll call Usagi to come visit you, you will need someone to speak to….Wait a minute." Setsuna turned facing the kitchen, calling out loud enough, "Hotaru!"
Hotaru skipped into the living room happily, "Yes, Setsuna- Mama?"
"You are going to go with Haruka Papa for a few hours. Usagi and Chibiusa-chan might make a small visit." Setsuna went over to the coat closet grabbing Hotaru's jacket. "Take good care of Haruka, okay?"
"Okay, Mama." Hotaru jumped in excitement putting on her coat. "Tell Michiru Mama I will be back for dinner! Come on Papa!" Hotaru grabbed Haruka's hand walking out the door, carefully racing to the car.
Setsuna waved goodbye to them before closing the door. She pulled her cellphone out of her pocket, dialing Ami's number in a hurry. The phone rang a few times before a woman's voice answered on the other side."Hello? Good morning, Setsuna-san."
"Good Morning Ami. I'm sorry to bother you on your personal phone while you are at work but we have an issue. Are you free to do a brain scan on Michiru today? I will explain everything to you at the hospital if you are free. I just don't want Michiru to hear me at the moment." Setsuna kept quiet hearing Michiru fidgeting around in the kitchen.
Ami did not pause to ask any further questions. "If you are able to bring her in an hour I will be able to have everything ready."
"Thank you, Ami. I will see you in an hour. Good bye." She hung up before Ami could reply back. She repeatedly smacked her phone gently against the palm of her hand. "Oh...I hope you will be alright, Michiru." She sighed and mumbled under her breath. "If only I can break the law and reverse time. If only I could change what happened, on that day of March 5th."