[Author's note: I apologise for the late update. Left hand was out of action all Saturday, so all I managed was some editing yesterday. Anyway, hopefully the inflammation will go down soon, so I have the full use of all my ten digits soon again. On the positive side, at least my horrible typos get cleaned up in the previous chapters and the flow should be improved. Wishing you all a good start into the week. Regards, inklin ^_^]


-Kakyuu-

There was a sound of something dropping to the ground.

"Haruka!" She sat up instantly and looked at the machines' displays just to find Ami standing there and picking up a pen she had dropped.

"Sorry for waking you." Ami apologised timidly before she finished filling out the status sheet for Kakyuu.

"Ami? What are you doing here?" Kakyuu asked puzzled.

"I got put on a sabbatical by the director and Kakashi kind of got me here, so I thought I might as well be useful." Ami admitted sheepishly.

"Grandpa Tenoh did what?" Kakyuu had to collect herself, this was off her routine of checking on Haruka while making sure that she did not forget to take care of herself.

"He put me on a sabbatical as indirect punishment for not noticing what Ayumi was up to." Amy explained.

"I see, so now you have joined the dark side then." Kakyuu chuckled.

"The dark side?" It was Ami's turn to look puzzled.

"Never mind. How is Haruka doing?" Kakyuu asked as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

"She is stable, breathing is a bit weak, but otherwise everything looks alright. Why is she in a coma? Did something happen again?" Ami asked concerned.

"Haruka has put herself under for the duration of the viral treatment. The new serum is particular excruciating and taxing on her physically and mentally. So, to avoid that certain neural pathways to develop in a way that cause her chronic pain later on and for her not to have to witness all the horrors of it consciously, we opted for this method. It lets me objectively manage her pain without risking addiction and for her to have a break from life." Kakyuu explained as she stretched herself.

"You look really tired, how about you go and have some real rest and I take care Haruka while you freshen up?" Ami offered.

"You don't look any less tired than myself. I take it the boys took you in through one of the tunnels?" Kakyuu asked in return.

"Yea, the one near the Nihonbashi bridges." Ami confirmed.

"Oh, that is one of the trickier paths. Did Kaito-ji take you through it?" Kakyuu continued to ask as she checked on the medication schedule for Haruka.

"No, the person who took us through was Ryou-kun." Ami informed the other doctor.

"I see." Kakyuu nodded. "Have you had a nice long hot shower yet?" Kakyuu continued to ask.

"Oh, yes. The guest quarters have not been unlocked yet, so I used the clinic's facilities." Ami explained.

"I see. I better ask Taiki then if he has unlocked you a proper apartment for you to rest in and unlocked your access to the other facilities." Kakyuu pulled out her phone.

"There is really no rush. I just got here a couple of hours ago and I am really not tired." Ami reassured her.

"If you really want to help, then I need you to be really well rested, because every time I administer the Serum, it can get very turbulent in here." Kakyuu informed Ami stern.


-Shinobu-

She was walking, next to her mistress, towards the Kindergarten, which Hotaru attended, as she spotted the other woman whose presence caused her mistress a fair bit of distress. Even if Yumi didn't show it, Shinobu knew that every time a new woman appeared in Haruka's life, Yumi would get quieter and fairly sullen at times. But right now, her mistress walked unfazed towards the other woman and greeted her politely.

"Kaioh-san, nice to meet you again." Yumi greeted Michiru and Shinobu simply bowed silently.

"Myamoto-san, Sasaki-san, nice to meet you both again as well. Have you come to pick up Hotaru-chan?" Michiru asked friendly.

"Yes, we pick her up every Tuesday, for some tea, before we drive her home." Yumi explained. "Would you like to join us?" Yumi offered courteously.

"I wouldn't want to impose." Michiru hesitated.

"Of course you wouldn't impose. I run a tea house, there is always space for another person who appreciates a good cup of tea." Yumi put the other woman's mind at ease.

Suddenly the little black haired girl came running out of the Kindergarten and greeted the three women.

"Hello Yumi-nee. Hello Shinobu-nee. Are you coming with us to drink tea, too, Michiru-mama?" Hotaru asked innocently and Shinobu noticed how Yumi's eyes turned distant. Just then Hotaru turned, without waiting for Michiru's reply to Yumi. "It is ok for Michiru-mama to come along as well, right Yumi-nee?" Hotaru asked openly.

"I just asked her to join, but she has not agreed yet." Yumi replied gently.

Michiru looked conflicted for a moment but then agreed nonetheless and so they all walked towards the car, that was waiting for them around the corner, to take them to the tea house. Shinobu immediately informed Noriko to make preparations for them and as soon as they arrived, adequate servants tended to her mistress's guests needs.


-Michiru-

After a smooth ride, they arrived at a well-hidden tea house, surrounded by a tall wall and a small, well-kept bamboo forest. Yumi went ahead of them to the tea room and Hotaru followed her as if it was the most natural thing to do. Hotaru seemed very familiar with these surroundings and greeted many servants by their first name.

Once in the tea room, Hotaru immediately sat down on a specific cushion and Michiru sat down next to her as Yumi took her spot as tea master, near all the tea utensils.

"Do you think Haruka-papa will call today?" Hotaru asked excited.

"I don't know Hotaru-chan, but I am sure whoever will pick up will pass on your recording for her and as soon as she can, your Haruka-papa will answer you." Yumi explained patiently, as Shinobu brought in a laptop as well as sweets for Hotaru and Michiru.

Yumi made them patiently tea before she made the call on the secure line.

Soon, Yaten picked up.

"Hello there Hotaru-chan," He greeted the child cheerfully. "Hello Yumi-nee. Michiru-nee…." Yaten seemed slightly puzzled.

"Hello Yaten-ji" Hotaru greeted back and Yumi nodded gently before she drank of her tea.

"Hello there Yaten-kun." Michiru greeted back friendly.

"Is Haruka-papa here today?" Hotaru asked impatiently.

"I am sorry, not today Hime-chan, but I will make sure to show her your recording." Yaten reassured the little girl.

"Hmm, ok, do you think she will be back soon?" Hotaru asked a bit disappointed.

"I guarantee you, she is really doing her best to be back soon." Yaten smiled with a hint of melancholy. "So, go ahead, tell me how your day was at Kindergarten and all the things you had been doing for the last couple of days." Yaten encouraged the little girl.

Hotaru started to tell Yaten about her day and all her little adventures while he recorded her while Michiru and Yumi sat to each side of her.

Suddenly there was a light knock at the door and Katashi stuck his head in.

"Hello there Katashi-ji!" Hotaru waved to him.

"Hello there Hotaru-chan." Kakashi smiled. "Can I borrow Yumi-san for a moment?" He asked kindly.

Hotaru looked over to Yumi and thought for a moment until the other woman nodded.

"Ok, but not for too long." Hotaru reminded Katashi who just nodded with a smile.

Yumi got up silently and went outside to talk to her husband before Yaten spoke up.

"Hey Hime-chan, something came up, I think we have to wrap it up for today." He informed Hotaru.

"Ok Yaten-ji. Say hi to all the others for me and remind Haruka-papa that she promised me to come home soon." Hotaru reminded him.

"Of course." Yaten winked before the screen went blank again.

"Michiru-mama, you haven't even touched your sweets." Hotaru pointed out.

"No, I am not as much of a sweet tooth like your Haruka-papa" Michiru smiled.

"Try it, it is really good. It makes the tea taste a lot nicer." Hotaru explained as she had a big piece herself, followed by the rest of her tea.

"Haruka-papa always says, the more bitter the tea is, the sweeter the sweets must be." Hotaru continued to explain.

"Do you come here often?" Michiru asked Hotaru casually.

"Every Tuesday." Hotaru answered sincerely. "Tuesdays, Hideki and Hideyoshi have Kendo training and then I would be alone at home, so usually Haruka-papa takes me here so I can try some tea and learn about it. But if Haruka-papa isn't around I just drink tea with Yumi-nee and play with Shinobu-nee." Hotaru explained. "But today you are here, so we can drink tea." Hotaru smiled.


-Ami-

They were preparing Haruka for another injection and Kakyuu was fastening the blonde's hands and feet to the bed while Ami kept an eye on Haruka's vitals.

"Is the reaction that severe?" Ami asked tentatively.

"It is just a precaution. Usually I am here on my own, so I always have to be prepared for the worst." Kakyuu explained as she lay out several injections ready next to her before she gave Ami one. "If Haruka's heartrate reaches 160 prepare to inject with this and hit it as steady as possible so that she does not exceed 175, if we get to 180, you will need to reach for the paddles." Kakyuu instructed Ami. "Ok, ready?" Kakyuu looked at her one more time and Ami nodded and so the red haired doctor proceeded to inject Haruka with the fist syringe.

Nothing happened at first but then Haruka's heart rate slowly increased and she started to sweat.

Kakyuu calmly proceeded with the second and third syringe and Haruka's heart rate climbed steadily. When it hit 145, Haruka started to shake. Ami knew that was a reaction to the pain Haruka's body was experiencing and she was glad that the blonde was in a coma, because any human who would be awake with such symptoms would probably be already screaming their lungs out. Kakyuu waited for the tremor to subside lightly before she continued to inject Haruka with the fourth syringe.

Out of nowhere Haruka's heart rated jumped to 170 and Ami immediately administered the medication which Kakyuu had given her earlier, but the heart rate would not lower. Kakyuu finished administering the last injection in her hand before she jumped up to grab the paddles herself but then Haruka's heart rate slowly suddenly dropped again, slowly, but it dropped.

Ami could see the relief in Kakyuu's eyes.

"Is it always like this?" Ami asked, suddenly noticing that her own heart rate had climbed.

"Two heart failures in the last 10 days and one cardiac arrest. I don't know how many more Haruka can candle. Today was none. So that is something." Kakyuu sighed.