"...Police are still unsure what caused the cave in that resulted in the train crash on the Hanzomon Line last afternoon, but investigations are ongoing. As a result the Hanzomon Line will be closed indefinitely. Police report that while one hundred thirty-six people were injured, so far there have been no reports of fatalities..."

Haruka turned off the television. So far no one was killed because of them. That was a relief. So far...

Haruka stood in Michiru's doorway. Her face was still completely colorless. Haruka had done her best do bandage up all her wounds, but she was still injured badly. The primary explosion had been bad enough, but the crash had sent both of them flying like rag dolls. It had knocked them both unconscious. Haruka had come to when the rescue workers entered the tunnels. But Michiru hasn't shown any signs of life yet. Going the the hospital wasn't an option. So all that was left to do was pray and hope that somewhere out there there was at least one god who still cared.

Haruka spent most of the day sitting beside Michiru's bed, watching her breathe, just to make sure she was still alive. It wasn't until noon that finally Michiru opened her eyes. "...h...ru...ka..." She murmured. Haruka sat up and took Michiru's hand.

"I'm here..." Haruka assured her.

"Is the boy okay?"

Haruka nodded, "He's bruised up, and shaken up. But he'll be alright. And no one on the train was killed either."

"Thank goodness..." Michiru said. "Are you..." She placed her hand gently on the bandages around Haruka's throat.

"I'm fine." replied Haruka. "You don't need to worry about me."

Michiru gave a weak smile, "I'm glad..." She fell back to sleep. Haruka gently brushed the loose hair from her face.

The rest of the day passed slowly. Haruka called both of their schools to let them know they'd be out. She called Michiru's parents as well, knowing that the school would. She explained to Marketa that they were in the train crash, but they were both fine, Michiru was sleeping off pain meds so she couldn't talk, but she would call as soon as possible. The Bohemian woman started asking questions so fast and frantically that they were only half in Japanese. Haruka did manage to convince her not to come visit again, but quickly regretted her decision to call at all.

A little after three she heard the doorknob rattle as if someone was trying to get in, she stood up and went into the living room. The doorknob rattled a little more, then stopped. Moments later the intercom buzzed. Michiru had taught Haruka how to work the intercom system a few weeks ago when they ordered pizza.

"Michiru?"

Haruka hit the buzzer to reply. "Who is it?"

"...This...this is Elsa...Elsa Gray...I have Michiru's homework from today..."

"I'll be right there."

Haruka unlocked the door and opened it. Elsa Gray...now that she saw the girl's face, she recognized the name. It was the same girl that first introduced them at that track meet. She stared at Haruka in surprise.

"Can I have her things, please?" Haruka asked. Elsa handed them over, still staring in shock. "Thanks." Haruka muttered before starting to close the door.

"WAIT!" Elsa shouted, sticking her arm in the door to prevent it from closing. "Where's Michiru?"

"Back off."

"YOU CAN'T JUST SLAM THE DOOR LIKE THAT!"

Haruka tried her best to shut the door, but Elsa wouldn't budge. "It's rude to try to force yourself into someone else's house, didn't your mother ever tell you that?"

"Let me in, then!" Elsa replied.

Haruka could have gotten the door shut, but not without taking off the other girl's fingers. So she gave up and stepped back. The door slammed open and Elsa fell in, landing hard on the floor. She glared at Haruka. "You're awfully rude!"

Haruka sighed and offered Elsa a hand. "You tried to enter without permission, you're lucky I didn't call security on you, though you're probably used to that."

Elsa's eyes narrowed.

"Come on." Haruka said, indicating her hand. "Or are you going to stay on the floor."

Elsa pushed herself up on her own. Still glaring. Haruka simply turned. Elsa was Michiru's best friend, besides that, she was the one who took the first step in bringing them together, Haruka figured she should at least offer the bare minimum of hospitality.

"Do you want some tea?"

Elsa followed her to the kitchen and sat down at the counter. Haruka could feel the girl watching her but tried her best to ignore it.

"So where's Michiru?" Elsa asked.

"She's in bed resting." Haruka replied, finishing up the tea. "Here." She offered her a cup. "Would you mind leaving after you finish."

Elsa's eyes flashed. "Thanks for the tea."

Haruka made herself a cup and leaned against the counter taking a sip.

"How'd you hurt yourself?" Elsa asked.

Haruka deliberately took a longer drink to avoid answering. She supposed she could say she was on the train that crashed, that was almost true. But then Elsa would probably assume Michiru was on it as well and want to see her. "I crashed my motorcycle."

"You have to be more careful!" Elsa exclaimed, "What if you hurt your legs? You wouldn't be able to run track anymore!"

"I don't run track anymore." Haruka told her.

"What!" Elsa exclaimed, she stood up so fast that her stood crashed to the ground with a clatter. "You quit?! Why would you do that?! How can you just throw away your talent?!"

Haruka glared at the girl, "I don't really see how that's any of your business!" Haruka replied.

"It IS my business! You could go to the Olympics! You could win the gold for Japan! It's selfish! Some people would give anything for talent like yours! And your just wasting it! Are you afraid?! Do you want to quit while you're ahead?! "

Haruka wanted to slap Elsa, but restrained herself. "It's time for you to go!" She replied, "I don't have time for you! And neither does Michiru!"

Elsa reeled back as if she had been slapped. "Where is Michiru?!"

"I told you, she's sleeping!"

Elsa pushed past, heading for Michiru's bedroom. "I want to see her!"

Haruka grabbed her arm. "She's sleeping!" Haruka repeated.

"I'm not going to wake her up!" Retorted Elsa, "I just want to see her face to make sure she's okay!"

"NO!" Haruka blocked the door.

"Why are you hiding her?"

"This isn't you're house! You were asked to leave! Go home!"

"This isn't you're house either! Who do you think you are anyways?! Why are you even here?! Michiru and I have been friends long before she met you!"

"I'm warning you, Gray, go home!" Haruka was loosing her patients.

"What are you to Michiru?! You're acting like your her girlfriend or something!"

"What if I am!?" Replied Haruka.

Elsa took a step back. "What?"

"We're girlfriends...actually, we're much closer than that. If you want, ask her about it when she returns to school." Haruka calmed down a bit now that Elsa was no longer pushing at her trying to get into Michiru's bedroom. "For now, please leave our apartment."

"Fine then..." It was clear Elsa was trying not to let Haruka see the tears starting to gather in her eyes. She turned and ran out the door.

Haruka sighed. She felt guilty, but if Elsa would have seen Michiru in the state she was in... for both Michiru's and Elsa's sake, it was better for Elsa to hate Haruka rather than risk her discovering too much. She locked the door again after Elsa left, then turned to go into Michiru's room.

"Your friend Elsa was here." Haruka said. "She dropped of your bag and your homework."

"I heard." Michiru commented. "You were pretty harsh."

Haruka sighed. "I had to be."

"I know." Michiru replied. "I just wish there was another way."

Haruka kissed her, "Rest some more so that you can heal. Everything will turn out alright."

Michiru took Haruka's hand. "Stay with me."

Haruka blinked in surprise. "Always." Haruka vowed. Gently Michiru pulled Haruka into the bed. Haruka obeyed, crawling under the down comforter. Michiru curled up next to her. Putting her head on Haruka's chest before falling back asleep.

Author's Note: I've got so many kind messages, thank you all so much 3 I really love them. So I've tried to just use The Lady in the Tower as a base, but I really love this scene between Haruka and Elsa, so I decided to include it, it was fun to adapt into written form. The upcoming chapter is proving to be a little difficult for me, so I'm not sure if it will be up next week or the week after, I hate making you guys wait, but I want my updates to be good, it's not fair to you or the characters when I submit something half assed. Anyways, as always, thanks for reading.