It's been nearly a year since I've had the urge to work on this. I do apologize for that. But as I was looking through my stories last night I came across this one wondering "Why is it still unfinished." So...Enjoy
Knight in Shining Armor
Chapter 9
Haruka looked around the gigantic library. Her mind confused as to where to start. So many books, so little time. She shook her head and reached up with her right hand to grab the first book.
The sound of it hitting the oak table echoed through the room. She didn't bother sitting as she opened to the middle of the book to get an idea of it's contents. "Folklore..." She mumbled to herself as she slammed the book shut. It was going to be a long and hard search.
"Father, I cannot marry that man." Michiru found herself pleading with the older man.
"Why can't you? The wedding plans have already been made in your absence Michiru. I can't just cancel everything." His voice became stern with her. "You will marry Derek tomorrow."
Michiru felt her eyes begin to burn with tears. "You're just using me for your peace treaty!" She stormed from his chambers before he had a chance to fight back. How could she fight her father? She wanted to scream and shout to him her love for Haruka. Yet, she only bit her tongue. She knew such actions would only bring punishment to her love. She had to help the general find that book.
"No...no...no...no..." She said as she drug her fingers across each book with a title. A deep breath filled her lungs as she glanced out at the setting sun.
"Haruka?" the soft voice carried through the hollow room. "Where are you?"
"Up here." she waved down to the woman from the second level.
Michiru frowned at her and proceeded to climb the ladder to the upper level. "You shouldn't have climbed up here with your shoulder like it is." Her tone was loving, full of concern.
The blonde let out a chuckle as she glanced at her younger love. "How else was I suppose to get up here on my own? What if the law had been up here?"
The Princess let her hand rest on Haruka's cheek as their eyes met. They shared a tender smile before one of them spoke. "We have until tomorrow to find it..."
All of the life left Haruka's face when her princess spoke those words. "Tomorrow?" She turned away to look at the rest of the library, hurt and defeat showing on her face.
Michiru lowered her voice as she stepped closer. "We will find that my love. We will find it." She reluctantly pulled away to reach for a book on the shelf.
"It's not up here, I already went through all of them." She moved toward the back of the row of books to sit down. She wanted nothing more then to sleep at that moment. Her wound was throbbing in pain, causing her whole arm to burn with the same sensation.
"Are you alright my love?" Michiru knelt next to the seated general. She pressed her hand to the woman's forehead and frowned. "You're burning up Haruka." She took her other hand to cup the woman's cheeks, forcing her to look up. "You should go and lie down. I'll continue searching tonight."
"I have to stay here though. I haven't even made it half way through yet." She pushed off the wall to stand back up. She placed her hand on her forehead as her world started to spin. "Maybe...maybe I should go to get some sleep." She gently grabbed her loves arm and pulled her into a quick, warm embrace. "Will you walk with me out to my barracks?"
The aqua haired princess nodded. "of course I will." She leaned forward to place a soft, feathery light kiss on the general's lips.
She stayed near to her side as they made their way from the library. Soldiers and staff glanced at them as they walked, nobody paying any mind to the princess chatting with her general.
"How's your shoulder feeling?" She was careful not to make any loving gestures toward her, not while in public anyway.
She hugged her left arm to her body as they walked slowly. "My arm is still burning..." She glanced up at the frowning princess.
"You need to take another dose of anti-poison then. Just to make sure it's out of your system. That doctor told me how to take care of you."
Haruka couldn't help but to smirk at the last statement, receiving a whack on the shoulder from her love. "Don't look at me like that."
The general unlocked the door to her private chamber, the princess entering behind her. "I don't know what they did with the bags from the trip." She groaned as she lay on the bed. Her eyes closed as she spoke. "Doctor told you how to take care of me huh?"
"You hush!" The princess' pale skin turned a bright crimson red at the thought of their lovemaking.
"You didn't seem to have any problems in France my love."
"Take off your shirt so I can get to your shoulder."
"Oh, now you want me to strip for you." She chuckled, but sat up and obeyed her love, wincing as she moved her left arm to pull the shirt off. "Careful..."
"Do you think I'd hurt you on purpose?"
"Maybe after the snake in the bed trick..." She inched away from the princess, expecting to be smacked.
She only shook her head and started pulling the bandages away from Haruka's shoulder, drawing a loud groan and gasp from the general. The blonde clenched her teeth as the pain shot across her chest. Sweat beads began to form on her forehead. She closed her eyes, trying not to focus on the pain.
"I know it hurts honey, I have to clean it." She gently dabbed at the scabbing, inflamed wound, each touch of the alcohol causing the general to writhe in pain. Michiru felt her heart start to tear apart. "I'm almost done my love." She helped the blonde sit up so she could re-wrap her shoulder. "There..." She reached for a clean cloth to dab at her forehead.
"I think it might still be spreading." She weakly opened her eyes to look at the princess. "My chest is heavy..."
"Drink this..." She held a small vial to the general's lips. She coughed and gagged the cloudy liquid down her throat. "That should help to stop the spread. Now sleep."
Haruka nodded and rolled onto her side, she reached out to grab Michiru's wrist as she started to stand. "Stay with me until I fall asleep...please." She looked up at her, pleading.
Michiru nodded and laid down next to her love. She planted a soft, gentle kiss on the blonde's lips before stroking her hair and humming softly to help her relax. "We'll find that book my love. I know we will..."
