Chapter 4: Hospital

« I'm going to abandon you for a little while honey. I must see my father. As soon as I am back I make you come back home. I won't be long. »

« I understand. But Michiru… don't go there alone…»

« He's my father, what could happen? »

« I'd rather someone to be with you. I have been attacked. I don't want the same to happen to you. »

« I'll be fine. Stop worrying. I'll be driving. No one's gonna attack me on the road. »

« Driving? You? Then the danger isn't your father nor homophobic people. The danger is you and you alone. »

« I have my license! »

« You do… But still, last time you drove somewhere you almost entered the supermarket with your car. »

« I was just thinking about something else! »

« That is the problem. You shouldn't think about something else while driving. Michiru you're always out of space. »

« I can't help it. »

« Be careful. Please. »

« I will. »

I kissed her with passion then left.

« Michiru where are you going? » asked Seiya.

I hadn't noticed that he had came back. He was still with his brothers and their five friends.

« I have someone to see. »

« Ok… I came to see how you were but it seemed you're ok now. I'll be at Usagi's place tonight if you need me. »

« Usagi? You mean the one with the odangoes? You're finally dating her? »

« Yes! She renounced to her boyfriend. She said she loved me more than him and that she was fed up with his leaving for USA. It was the third time… And he almost never called her. She was heartbroken for the first two weeks but she quickly turned to me. »

« I'm happy for you. You said you waited for her for almost three years, right? »

« Yes… But it was worth waiting. I love her so much. I'm sure she's the one. Just like Haruka is for you. »

« I wish you to be as happy as we are. Well it's not that I'm bored but I really need to leave. I think I know who caused all this. »

« Who? An homophobic association? One of her racing opponents? »

« Something like that… Those people should build their own homophobic association. »

Half an hour later, I was arrived at my family mansion. I didn't even knocked at the door. I simply made my way to the living room where I found my father alone, drinking a whisky.

« Michiru… What are you doing here? »

« What did you do to Haruka? »

« Your freaky dyke? Nothing. »

« Don't lie to me! They said they were sent! I know it is you! Who else? »

« Let's see… Maybe those brave men who think she has nothing to do with a well-mannered and educated girl like you, or the ones who think that a woman has nothing to do in a motor-racing competition. »

« You hired them, didn't you? »

« Yes, I did. But what can you do against it? »

More than ever before, I felt hate and disgust as I looked at my father. How could he be so cruel? So cold? I was his only daughter.

« There's something you can do. » he said.

« What? »

« Going back home with us and giving an interview to tell all this engagement story was an act. You'll use some silly reason like to defend the rights of homosexuals… anything you want. »

« Surely not. I love Haruka and I won't let her down, and especially now. She needs my support. You might have killed her!!! »

« So you don't really understand the situation… »

« What do you mean? »

« It was nothing… Just something to tell you I'm interested in her… next time she might not be in such a good state. My men had orders to let her live, and let her walk… This could have ended worse… The guys wanted her unable to race ever again. So… What do you decide? »

« You're a monster! I won't let you reach her! »

I couldn't believe he was saying such things. I felt hurt, even more than the day he and my mother came to our flat and tried to bring me back home calling Haruka names and all. I couldn't find the words… I sent him a cold glance then left slamming doors with anger behind me. I had to find ways to protect Haruka… Once outside I grabbed my cell phone and called my manager.

« Henry? It's Michiru. I think I'll accept your proposition about having the flat watched by a bodyguard or two. »

« Something happened? Michiru you're all right? »

« Yes, but it wasn't far. Someone's after Haruka. She is in the hospital. She won't be able to make the last races of the season. Well we're never careful enough, I want someone to protect her at the hospital. »

« And for you? Don't tell me you'll just hang out alone in the streets after that? »

« I'll bring her back home. »

When I arrived I approached her and took her hand in mine. She was asleep. I watched her closely. She had bruises, awful bruises. Her right arm was broken, she had dark marks on her cheeks and the wound on her forehead had been bandaged. She seemed exhausted. She wouldn't let me see it, but she was in a worse state than she said she was. I admired her. In her sleep, her body relaxed under my touch. She was suffering, it was obvious. I calmly caressed her hair and leant a kiss on her lips.

An hour after, she awoke.

« You're back, I knew it. Your scent was everywhere in my dreams, and no one has such a soft touching. »

« You were right. »

« I know. But everything will be ok. You're ok, I'm still alive… I see no cloud in the sky. My love is unharmed, that's all I ask for. »

Her words touched me, but what touched me most was the smile on her face and her eyes full of love. She was here, her head leaned on the pillow, the sun making her hair shine and she was staring at me with all the love of the universe. I felt a drop running down my cheek and wiped it.

« Hey! I should be the one crying! » said Haruka.

« I love you, and I'm bringing you home. »

« You're an angel. »

« And you're my daylight. »

She raised an arm to touch my cheek but I took her hand in mine and to avoid her the effort and leaned a kiss on her lips. Suddenly someone knocked at the door and entered.

« Good morning Tenoh-san, Kaioh-san. So I heard there was a loud and rude troublemaker around… I was told that you wanted to be hospitalized home. I'm on charge for this kind of things. Since you are a celebrity we can arrange something for you to come back to your house quickly than usual. In fact it would be the best thing to do because your accident reached the ears of the press. And there are fans trying to get in. The police is also interested in the case. They'll want to hear you… Why did they attacked you by the way? Was it an homophobic organisation?»

« No… they were after me because of the race. They were big strong men that couldn't bear a woman winning in motor sports. »

« They also wanted to… »

« Michi… »

Haruka silenced me. I understood she wanted avoid talking about the real reason of the attack. But suddenly I caught an interesting part of the doctor's speech…

« Did you say fans? They are fans trying to get to Haruka? »

« Yes, fans… Actually a lot of fans of you two. Why does it seem to surprise you? »

Haruka and I exchanged looks of astonishment. During the past weeks we had come to forget we had fans because we didn't open the mail anymore, nor than we did answer the phone. We knew we still had fans, but not like that… we thought our fans were now mostly attached to our performances, not to us anymore, which wasn't a bad thing. But the thought there were people outside that cared for us was comforting.

« So we'll send you back home tonight if you're quiet and accept a nurse to come and check you once a day. And you're not allowed to leave the bed. We'll find someone to look after you. »

« No way. » I said with a bit of anger.

« But… Michiru… What's wrong? You don't want me home? »

« It's not that sweetie… Listen, my fiancée is the biggest flirt ever, so there's no way a young and pretty woman will hang around her all day, removing her clothes and more generally, touching her. So I'll look after her myself as I already said to the other doctor. »

I sent her a playful smile. She was blushing.

« Don't believe her, she's lying! I'm not like that! »

The doctor began to laugh.

« See? I'm jealous too. »

« Kaioh-san… I… hmm… understand your point of view… But where will you find the time to look after Tenoh-san, I mean you've got a busy life between your studies and your career. »

« I'll take a pause. I needed it for a while. I'll do my schoolwork home as well as violin practice for a while. »

« She'll need you for at least two or three weeks… probably even more if she keeps being restless. Are you sure you want to do that? »

« Michi I don't want to be a burden for you. »

« Haruka you'll never be a burden. You've been there for me since the beginning, you are the best fiancée ever. You even stood in front of those men for me. So now let me take care of you. Anyway you don't have a choice. I said I wouldn't let a pretty young woman other than me touch you. »

« I'm defeated. »

« OK, so stay there I'm going to arrange everything. » said the doctor, leaving us alone.