Okay thanks for all the great reviews that I got for the first chapter that gave me all the warm and fuzzies and some made me laugh out loud. I can only hope I shall continue to get 'I hate you's' that actually mean I did well, lol. Sorry all my Haru lovers but I had the scene for that accident in my head before I wrote the chapter. And welcome back to to all my Horizon reviewers it's good getting to hear from you again. I missed you, lol. If you are new I hope I can write well enough to get you to keep reading...and reviewing...ahem. Okay so thank you to: Nightfall5029, Tripower, UltimateSk8erXD, petiyaka, McFleet, Readersama, tototo, SeraEris, lostinhersong, ShadowClub, James Birdsong, Proz-milo, Icywindbreeze, xXxsailorFanxXx, ilovemichiru25, imp4ever, Beaguru, StormBrsinger, Rukaangel, qtsoul, harukalover, Ryoko05, CoOkiE86, Neptunekitten1, imjce, xXHakaishaXx, krugern, dream, devil chocolate-chan.
Oh, and I don't own Sailor Moon.
Michiru sat in the waiting room of the hospital. Nephrite, Jadeite and Rei had accompanied Michiru and Hotaru to the hospital. They were soon joined by Usagi who arrived in tears after seeing the report on the news. The entire group sat in uncomfortable silence. No one knew what to say to alleviate the tension redolent between them.
Michiru looked at the clock again. Thirteen hours. Haruka was taken to Tokyo Memorial hospital in the helicopter and immediately into the OR. She was surgery for five hours and had been in recovery ever since. The only concern was that Haruka still had not woken up. No one knew if it was due to the accident, the anesthesia or something as simple as exhaustion, all they knew was that Haruka still had not opened her eyes. The doctors had momentarily ejected them from the room so they could run some more tests.
"Hotaru-chan do you need to potty?" Usagi asked suddenly.
Hotaru did not respond.
Michiru looked over at her and could see Hotaru's legs bouncing as she sat uncomfortably. She scolded herself for not paying better attention. She was so focused on herself and her concern for Haruka that she did not even realize that it had been hours since Hotaru went to the bathroom or since she had eaten.
"You need to go Hotaru-chan?" Michiru asked.
Hotaru just shook her head. "I can wait." She said softly, her eyes never leaving the floor.
"Come on Hotaru," Michiru said rising to her feet. "I have to go too."
"But-"
"Come on." Michiru ordered gently, holding her hand out to her. "I promise we will come right back and check on Haruka."
Hotaru conceded and let Michiru lead her to the restroom. After they were finished, Michiru went to the vending machine near the lobby so she could get Hotaru something to eat. There was no way she could even think about food right now but she needed to make sure that Hotaru was okay. It was not the best or most healthy cuisine but it was sustenance. As they turned the corner to make their way back to the Haruka's room to see if they would be allowed inside, Michiru heard the commotion in the lobby.
"I don't give a damn what your policy is. I want to know about my daughter!"
"Ojiji." Hotaru whispered, stopping in her tracks.
"What did you say?" Michru asked, looking down at her.
Hotaru turned around and began walking towards the lobby but Michiru tightened her grasp on her hand.
"No, Hotaru-chan. That's the wrong way. You'll get lost." Michiru said.
Hotaru turned back to face her with the most fierce expression Michiru had ever seen on the normally even-tempered child's face that showed that she would not be denied.
"No!" Hotaru growled ripping her hand from Michiru's grasp. She immediately broke into a sprint as she ran toward the lobby, ignoring Michiru's calls, and the fact that she was pursuing her.
"Ojiji!" Hotaru screamed.
Tenoh Hiroshi looked up from the desk and stopped his rant in time to see his waif of a granddaughter running towards him.
"Hotaru!?" He reached down and scooped her up as she threw herself into his arms.
"Ojiji, Haruka-papa won't wake up. She won't wake up!" Hotaru explained frantically.
"It's all right hime-chan. Jiji's here. I'll make everything better." Her grandfather said, pulling her into his embrace.
"Hiroshi!" His wife scolded him with a word. She did not want him making promises to Hotaru before they knew the situation or Haruka's condition.
"Um, Tenoh-sama?" Michiru said cautiously. She had only seen Haruka's father's picture and this was not the way she wanted to meet her lover's parents.
"Hai, who are you?" He answered looking at Michiru over Hotaru's shoulder.
"I am Kaioh Michiru." She said with a bow.
"Oh, Kaioh-sama!" The nurse at the desk said relieved. "I am sorry but I didn't know who-"
"It's fine. I will take it from here." Michiru assured. She turned to Haruka's parents, nervously. "Please follow me. I can take you both to Haruka's room."
"Arrigato. Anyone would think I was asking the location of Sun Tzu's lost manuscripts." He grumbled for the nurse's benefit, as he began following Michiru.
"How is she? How is my daughter?" Tenoh Ayame asked distraught.
"I…I don't know. She hasn't woken up yet." Michiru answered. Seeing that the distraught look on Haruka's mother's face became more pronounced, Michiru continued. "She's stable. The doctor said we just have to wait but he has confidence in her recovery."
"Oh, Ayame-kaa-san!" Usagi screamed rushing over to them, as the group arrived in the waiting room.
"Usagi-chan." Tenoh Ayame sighed embracing her. "Please you must tell me how she is? What is going on?"
"Oh, we don't know. I mean they told us she is recovering but they kicked us out to run some more tests."
"That is about the same as what this nurse told us." Tenoh Ayame added.
"Nurse?" Usagi looked around for the nurse, until her eyes fell of Michiru again and her white tailored dress. "Oh…actually Michiru-chan is-"
"Kaioh-sama you can come back inside now." An orderly said entering the waiting room.
"Arrigato."
"Tenoh-sama, Tenoh-san I'll take you to see Haruka." Michiru said to them.
"Come on Usagi-chan. I may need your support for this and you are closer to Haruka than anyone." Ayame said locking arms with Usagi. "But, you are not allowed to cry. I am holding on by a thread as it is."
"Hai. I promise." Usagi answered nodding. She looked at Michiru and shrugged her shoulders.
Michiru watched the interaction of Usagi and Haruka's mother in wonder. It was obvious that Usagi and Haruka were much closer than she had realized. The group entered the room to find Ami looking over Haruka's chart.
"Oh, Michiru-chan you are back."
"Hai, Ami-chan Haruka's parents are here to see her."
Tenoh Ayame immediately rushed over to the bed to her daughter's unconscious body, while Tenoh Hiroshi stood like a guard at a post after crossing the threshold of the room.
"She… hasn't woken up?" He asked.
"No, Tenoh-sama." Ami answered.
"All, that nonsense about the car being indestructible and the helmets being able to protect her from any blow." Ayame grumbled, looking at her daughter sadly as she gingerly ran her fingers through her hair.
"Well, apparently a part of the car broke off and struck her on the head with more impact than expected." Michiru answered, reiterating what little she knew. Nephrite and Jadeite went out of their way to give her all the safety information in their attempts to ensure her that Haruka would be fine after all.
"Where is the doctor?" Tenoh Hiroshi asked.
"Um, Mamo-chan is the attending but he had to go away." Usagi answered nervously.
"Well, that is ridiculous. How could he just leave without explaining anything to us?" He exploded.
"Hiroshi." His wife warned, not taking her eyes off her daughter.
"I am afraid that doctor Chiba was called away on a code and had to go immediately." Ami explained. "Don't worry Tenoh-sama I can answer all of the questions you have."
"I don't want to talk to another nurse. I want to talk to a doctor."
"Actually, Tenoh-sama I am a doctor."
"A little girl like you is a doctor?"
"Hai, I am an intern here at the hospital."
"Well, then you are an intern not a doctor. Does this hospital not have any real doctors? Where does all of our money go?"
"With all due respect Tenoh-sama I am perfectly qualified to answer your questions."
"Look, I want you to do down that hallway and find me a real, bonafide, fully qualified doctor. Is that possible? I do not want someone who is still training."
"Otou-san…"
"I want someone who-"
"…stop… tormenting… the staff."
"Ruka!" Michiru screamed. Before anyone else had a chance to process what had just happened, Michiru ran across the room and threw herself on Haruka frantically kissing her face.
"Aww, Michi." Haruka said with a strained laugh.
"Oh, gomen. Gomenasai." Michiru apologized, pulling away from her. She immediately leaned forward again and placed her lips against her lover's. "I was so worried. I was so scared." She said softly running her fingers through Haruka's hair.
"I'm sorry Michi." Haruka said with her crooked smile. Her head was swimming with the medicinal cocktail from the IV and her entire body felt like it was throbbing. She had to concentrate to even see straight. At this point Michiru was little more than an Aquamarine blur but her focus was gradually getting better.
After Tenoh Ayame recovered from the surprise of seeing the 'nurse' kissing her daughter she rushed forward and did the same.
"Oh, my baby!" Ayame sighed, then her face fell and she leaned forward cupping Haruka's cheeks. "I told you I hated those stupid cars of yours." She scolded before giving her a kiss.
"Hai, gomen." Haruka mumbled admonished. She looked around concerned. "Ho…Hotaru?"
"She's here."
"I'm sorry Tenoh-san, Michiru but if you could please allow me to examine Haruka." Ami interrupted as she approached them.
The two women reluctantly stepped back looking at each other with recognition for the first time. Tenoh Hiroshi was still rooted in position, trying to recover from the shock of seeing his daughter being kissed so passionately by another woman. Though he knew about his daughter's 'lifestyle' he had never witnessed it, and he had been quite satisfied with that. If he did not witness it personally he could always pretend it away, or that it was some sort of phase after all. But, the image of Haruka lips against Michiru's was now permanently imprinted in his brain. With Hotaru still in his arms, Hiroshi just clung to her tighter.
"So," He began, looking at Michiru in displeasure. "You are Haruka's…you know?"
"Hai. Kaioh Michiru." She said once again.
"And how long has this…this thing been going on?" He asked.
"Um," Michiru nervously looked back at Haruka, who had conveniently fallen asleep again. Great, Michiru thought. This meeting was getting better and better. "I believe it has been about six months or-"
"Six months!" Tenoh Ayame exclaimed. She turned to Usagi with an indignant expression. "Usagi-chan, did you know about this?"
"Hai, Ayame-kaa-san." Usagi answered.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Well, I…I kinda thought…that you already knew." Usagi continued nervously. She dropped her head and turned away, mumbling under her breath. "Because somebody swore to me that she was finally going to tell you."
Michiru and Tenoh Ayame both gasped at the news, as Usagi had never been particularly good and whispering. Usagi's jaw dropped realizing that she had been overheard.
"Hehe, what I meant was…Michiru is a really nice girl. I'm sure you'll love her." Usagi said with a smile.
The group stayed in the hospital room in uncomfortable silence as Haruka had fallen asleep again. This time there was less worry because Ami explained that she was not unconscious but only asleep because of the medication. Haruka had a broken left arm, a broken right leg, several broken ribs and because of it a punctured lung. They all sat waiting impatiently until she had finally woken up again.
"Hotaru, do you want to see Haruka now?" Tenoh Hiroshi asked seeing her surreptitiously watching Haruka from the corner they sat in.
Hotaru just shook her head.
Michiru, Usagi and Tenoh Ayame were crowded around Haruka's bed trying to engage her in conversation now that she was more coherent.
"Come on Hotaru-chan. Everything is okay now." Tenoh Hiroshi ensured.
Hotaru still looked at Haruka apprehensively as her Ojiji took her and gently placed her on the bed straddling Haruka. She sat on Haruka's hips, as per the latter's instructions, where her weight would cause Haruka the least pain.
"What's the matter hime-chan? Don't you want to talk to me?" Haruka asked, her voice still raspy from the tube that was recently removed from her mouth.
Hotaru was silent, looking down at her hands as her fingers played with the fabric of Haruka's hospital gown.
"Are you angry with me?" Haruka asked.
Hotaru slowly shook her head.
"Then what's wrong?"
Hotaru just stayed silent.
Haruka sighed, and using her good arm gently stroked Hotaru's cheek. "It's okay hime-chan. You don't have to say anything if you don't want to."
They sat silent for a few minutes.
Tenoh Hiroshi stepped forward to take Hotaru back but Haruka inconspicuously signaled for him to wait. Haruka knew her daughter and that Hotaru would speak when she was ready.
They sat in silence for a few more minutes while everyone in the room tried to force a conversation and pretend that they were not also waiting in anticipation.
"You," Hotaru began softly, not looking up. "You wouldn't wake up. We…we were here for a really long time…" Hotaru whispered, her fingers twisting the fabric indicating her distress. "And…and you wouldn't wake up."
"Ah, I see. And that made you scared?" Haruka asked gently.
Hotaru nodded slowly. "I…I thought you were going to leave." She whispered.
"Leave? Where would I go without you? Why would you think that?" Haruka asks tilting Hotaru's chin so she could see her face.
"B-because… mommy went to sleep in the hospital… and she never waked up." Hotaru said as the tears began streaming down her face. Her hands made little fists as they clutched Haruka's gown. "Mommy left us and we never saw her again. I didn't want Haruka-papa to leave me too. I didn't want you to go away and never wake up again." Hotaru explained, her voice getting louder as she cried, leaving the entire room silent.
"Oh, my hime-chan. I'm so sorry." Haruka said finally understanding and pulling Hotaru to her. "I'm sorry I scared you, Hotaru. I promise I will never leave you. Didn't we tell mommy that we'd be together forever?" She whispered.
Hotaru, still crying, just nodded her head into Haruka's chest.
"Well then, there's nothing to cry about is there?"
Hotaru just shakes her head in acceptance.
"Don't worry hime-chan. Nothing can ever separate us. I promise." Haruka said before kissing the top of her head.
It did not take long for Hotaru to fall asleep. It was well past her bedtime and the stress of the day had finally caught up with her.
"Now Haruka I understand that you needed to talk to Hotaru but you really shouldn't have her lying on you like that." Ami began. "I know it must hurt."
"I'll be alright." Haruka answered trying to mask her grimace.
"Of course you will. But, all the same you need your rest. This dose of medicine I gave you will make you fall asleep again soon so you all should say your goodbyes now." Ami ordered.
"Goodbyes?" Tenoh Hiroshi said in shock.
"But we just got here. She just woke up." Tenoh Ayame said moving forward.
"I am sorry Tenoh-samas but Haruka needs her rest if she is to recover. And I think it would be beneficial if you all did the same. I recommend that you all go home and get some sleep."
"But-" Michiru began.
"Visiting hours begin at 10am." Ami continued. "Now I will give you a few minutes to say goodbye while I get a nurse to prepare Haruka's IV for the night."
The group watched as Ami exited the room.
"Well, Haru-kun I'll come back and see you tomorrow." Usagi said before giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Bye Odango." Haruka mumbled.
Usagi looked around and the group and after an uncomfortable goodbye made a quick exit.
The Tenohs and Mihciru stood around Haruka's bed uncomfortably.
"Well, Haruka," her mother began. "We'll, do what the doctor says and let you get some rest. We'll just take Hotaru home with us and bring her back in the morning."
"No okaa-san." Haruka began. "Arigato, but I think Hotaru will feel better if she gets to sleep in her own bed tonight."
"Oh, so you want us to stay at your house then?" Ayame asked.
"No it's fine, Michiru can stay with her."
"She can?" Ayame said surprised.
"I can?" Michiru said in the same tone.
"Hai." Haruka answered.
"But…but are you sure?" Michiru asked nervously. She stooped down closer to Haruka so she could speak more softly. "Are you sure Hotaru wouldn't rather stay with your parents than with me? Are you sure it is a good idea for me to be…alone with her…I never have before. What if…what if I don't know what to do?"
"You'll be fine. She's not as scary as she looks, you know." Haruka struggled to smile as the medicine was beginning to affect her.
"But, don't you think she'd rather stay here with you? We can stay in the waiting room." Michiru offered.
"No." Haruka said firmly, as she looked down at her sleeping child. "She's spent too much time in hospitals."
"Okay then." Michiru conceded, seeing the serious expression on Haruka's face.
"Don't worry Michi…I have faith in you." Haruka said seeing the doubtful expression on Michiru's.
"Haruka are you certain this is the best idea?" Her mother questioned looking from Michiru to Hotaru. "I mean it is obvious that your friend doesn't want to take care of Hotaru-"
"I never said I didn't want to-"
"Of course not dear, but all the same perhaps Hotaru would feel more comfortable if she was with family rather than with someone she hardly knows. I mean no offense dear," Ayame said turning to her. "But, perhaps your concerns are valid. After all if you do not feel capable of-"
"I am perfectly capable of taking care of Hotaru for one night…or for as long as Haruka needs me to." Michiru answered returning to her normal height.
"Well, if that is really what Haruka really wants…" Ayame said looking to Haruka who gave no response.
"Perhaps, we should just take the girls home so we can all get some sleep." Tenoh Hiroshi said as he gently began taking Hotaru from Haruka.
"Hmm, mmm…no…papa." Hotaru said struggling as she woke up.
"Hey, it's okay hime-chan." Haruka reassured, cradling her face in her hand. "Ojiji is going to take you and Michiru home now."
"No, I wanna stay with you." She said rubbing her eyes sleepily.
"No, this is not a good place for you to stay." Haruka answered.
"But I-"
"But, you can come back first thing in the morning, okay."
"Okay." Hotaru softly agreed. She reached forward and wrapped her arms around Haruka's neck. "Feel better Haruka-papa."
Once again Haruka had to stifle her pain as Hotaru hugged her tightly. Suddenly her body felt warm. The warmth began in her chest and radiated around her torso. It must've been the medicine for Haruka was certain that she saw a glow between Hotaru's body and hers, before she fell asleep.
Michiru lay in Haruka's bed unable to sleep. The final moments of the race kept replaying in her mind. Then there was the monumental meeting of Haruka's parents which did not go at all as she had imagined or planned. It was the longest car ride ever on the way home. Haruka's mother looked as though she was still racked with doubt about leaving her granddaughter with Michiru. But, Michiru didn't blame her. She was racked with doubt as well. Luckily, Hotaru fell asleep again on the way home. Haruka's father brought her inside and placed her in bed and Haruka's mother helped change her. All Michiru was worried about was what would happen tomorrow when she and Hotaru woke up. Though they got along quite well, they had not exactly established a solid relationship yet and it was the first time the pair would be alone together. From what Ami had said, Haruka would be in the hospital for at least a week. Did Haruka want her to stay with Hotaru the entire time? Would Hotaru consent to that? Would Haruka's mother?
There was a soft knock at the door interrupting Michiru's thoughts. The door creaked as it slowly opened to reveal a tiny figure standing in the shadow of the doorway.
"Hotaru-chan?" Michiru said sitting up in bed. "Is everything all right?"
Hotaru did not respond but looked down to her feet.
"You can't sleep." Michiru said knowingly.
Hotaru shook her head in refusal. "But…koneko-chan…" She trailed off softly.
"Well," Michiru began, with a smile. "I'm having a little trouble sleeping myself. Does koneko-chan want to stay the night with me?"
Hotaru hesitated a bit before she slowly walked to the bed and climbed in. She settled in as Michiru adjusted the covers around her.
"Is this better?" Michiru asked.
"Un, but… I think…koneko-chan would feel better if you tell her a story too." Hotaru said turning to face her.
"Oh, she would," Michiru said stroking the hair from Hotaru's face. "What kind of story does koneko-chan want?"
"Hmm…she wants a new story."
"A new story?" Michiru lay silently for a while thinking about what this new story would be. "Okay. Once upon a time there was a princess."
"I like princesses...I mean koneko-chan likes them." Hotaru amended.
"Well, that's good." Michiru said grinning. "But this princess was different. She lived in a magical forest because she was a firefly."
"Like me?"
"Hai! And the firefly lived in the magical forest with her papa the king who was a…ladybug."
"A ladybug?!" Hotaru said laughing, imagining Haruka as a ladybug.
"Oh, you like that?" Michiru said laughing as well.
"Hai. What kind of bug are you?" Hotaru asked eagerly.
"Hmm, I don't know…maybe a bumblebee?"
"No…not a bumblebee." Hotaru disagreed, closing her eyes.
"Okay…what should I be then?" Michiru asked, stroking her hair.
"Umm…a butterfly." Hotaru said through her yawn.
"Why a butterfly?"
"Because butterflies are pretty…and I like…butter…flies." Hotaru said snuggling closer to Michiru.
Michiru looked down at Hotaru amazed as the little girl fell asleep against her. She could feel the tug in her heart as she looked at Hotaru's sleeping face and knew that in that moment everything had changed. Somehow, all the unease and the restlessness that Michiru had been feeling was gone now, and all she wanted to do was make this little girl happy. Perhaps, this is what Haruka had in mind, Michiru thought smiling. She leaned forward and gently kissed Hotaru's forehead before settling beside her.
Michiru awoke to find herself alone in bed. Oh no, she thought. One night and I lost Haruka's daughter. She's going to kill me if anything happens to her. Michiru sprang from the bed. Her mind was spiraling with all the horrible ways she could imagine an unsupervised six year old hurting themselves.
"Hotaru-chan! Hotaru!" She called running down the stairs, after checking Hotaru's room. "Hotaru!"
"Ohayo!" Hotaru said beaming, as she sat at the dining room table eating breakfast.
"Hotaru what do you mean going off on your own like that?" Michiru scolded her. "And I know you are not allowed to use the kitchen by yourself so how did you make breakfast?"
"I didn't make breakfast!" Hotaru said with a frown at being scolded so early in the morning. "Baba made breakfast."
"Baba?" Michiru said confused. She looked up too see Haruka's parents standing at the threshold of the kitchen and the dining room. "Oh. Ohayo Gozaimasu."
"There was no reason to yell at Hotaru," Ayame said walking past Michiru toward her granddaughter.
"I didn't yell. I didn't mean to yell. I was worried when I could not find her. Gomenasai Hotaru-chan." Michiru apologized.
"It's okay." Hotaru said smiling, with the easy forgiveness inherent in children.
"Well, all the same," Ayame began.
"Sit down and have breakfast." Tenoh Hiroshi said interrupting his wife.
"Arigato, but I am not really hungry. I think." Michiru answered.
"When was the last time you ate?" Tenoh Hiroshi asked.
"I…I don't know."
"Sit down. It will do you no good to get sick as well."
"But-"
"And if you are supposed to take care of Hotaru you need to make sure you take care of yourself don't you think?" He said gently.
"Hai." Michiru said with a grateful bow before taking a seat. She felt uncomfortable sitting and having breakfast with Haruka's parents, especially since she was still dressed in her nightclothes.
"I'm sorry I was not awake to receive you. If you had called I would have been able to prepare." Michiru began. She looked over and saw the indignant expression on Tenoh Ayame's face. "Not that you have to call before you come to Haruka's house. I didn't mean that. She is your daughter after all." She looked back down at her plate and finished her breakfast in silence.
The Tenohs, Michiru and Hotaru arrived at the hospital at ten 'o clock exactly. One thing Tenoh Ayame could do well was plan. As they began walking toward the front doors of the building, they noticed the crowd gathered.
"What is going on?" Ayame asked, clutching Hotaru's hand tighter.
The crowd looked up at the sound and immediately rushed toward them.
"Tenoh-sama is it true that Tenoh Haruka is really a woman? Is she really your daughter?" A reporter said thrusting a camera and microphone in his face.
"How long have you known about your daughter's double life?" Asked another.
"Kaioh-sama is it true that you and Tenoh Haruka are in a romantic relationship?" Another reporter asked doing the same to Michiru. She was soon surrounded by several more.
"Did you know that Tenoh was really a woman or was she lying to you as well?" One reporter asked.
"Kaioh-sama how long have you been a lesbian?" Asked another.
"Is Tenoh your first relationship with a woman?"
"How do you think your fans will react to the news of you and Tenoh?"
"Do you have anything to say about your relationship with Tenoh?"
"All right, that is enough!" Tenoh Hiroshi said putting his arm around Michiru and leading her into the building. "This is a violation of privacy."
"What's going on? Why are all the people yelling about papa?" Hotaru asked.
"It's nothing hime-chan." Hiroshi picked her up as he glanced back through the double doors at the crowd of reporters outside. He looked and saw the stunned expression on Michiru's face. "Are you okay?"
"I...I need to talk to Haruka." Michiru said, trembling. She and Haruka had discussed it. Due to them both having high profile careers and Haruka having a young child, they had been very careful about protecting the details of their relationship. They had been so careful that Michiru never thought that they would be exposed. The assumption that Haruka was a man also made things much easier to navigate. But that was obviously no longer the case. If everyone did not yet know that Tenoh Haruka was a woman, they soon would. And considering Michiru attended the race with her and went to the hospital, their relationship was also uncovered.
They were essentially being outed twice and Michiru was not prepared for it.
Hope you guys aren't disappointed in this chapter. There was more I wanted to do but it would've made it much too long and I wanted to post it. So, I'm going to start on chapter three. Don't forget to review!